AP NEWS
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has accused President Vladimir Putin of disrespecting Christianity by attempting to pressure Navalny’s mother into agreeing to a secret funeral.
Navalnaya stated that authorities threatened to bury Navalny in the Arctic prison and implied that his body was decomposing rapidly, pressuring his mother to make a quick decision. She demanded the return of her husband’s body, accusing Putin of tormenting him both in life and death.
Navalny’s unexpected death prompted widespread memorials across Russia, despite authorities detaining scores of people to suppress sympathy. Navalnaya’s accusations against Putin were echoed by musician Nadya Tolokonnikova, who criticized Putin’s alleged hypocrisy regarding traditional values.
Navalny’s mother has filed a lawsuit contesting officials’ refusal to release his body, with a hearing scheduled for March 4.
