Alexei Navalny’s mother has filed a lawsuit with a Russian court demanding the release of her son’s body.
Lyudmila Navalnaya has brought the case to a court in the city of Salekhard challenging officials’ refusal to release Russian opposition, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported.
A closed-door hearing has been scheduled for March 4, the report said, quoting court officials.
Ms Navalnaya has been trying to retrieve her son’s body since Saturday, following his death in an arctic penal colony a day earlier. She has been unable to find out where his body is being held, Navalny’s team reported.
Navalnaya yesterday appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to release her son’s remains so that she could bury him with dignity.
“For the fifth day, I have been unable to see him. They wouldn’t release his body to me. And they’re not even telling me where he is,” a black-clad Navalnaya, 69, said in the video, with the barbed wire of Penal Colony No. 3 in Kharp, about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow.
“I’m reaching out to you, Vladimir Putin. The resolution of this matter depends solely on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei’s body is released immediately, so that I can bury him like a human being,” she said in the video, which was posted to social media by Navalny’s team.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
