Alexei Navalny ‘died of natural causes’, according to a medical report by Russia

One investigator told Lyudmila: 'Time is not working for you. The corpse is decomposing.'

Feb 22, 2024 - 18:00

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Alexei Navalny ‘died of natural causes’, according to a medical report by Russia

Alexei Navalny 'died' of 'natural causes' (Picture: PA) — Alexei Navalny ‘died’ of ‘natural causes’ (Picture: PA)

A medical report carried out by Russia on the death of Alexei Navalny has shown that the opposition leader died of ‘natural causes’.

The news came after his team and family alleged Vladimir Putin murdered him, an allegation the Kremlin has angrily rejected.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s press secretary, posted the news on X and said his mother presented with the findings.

The 47-year-old was one of Vladimir Putin’s most persistent critics and was seen as the person that Russian president feared the most.

Alexei Navalny’s mother Lyudmila shared her ordeal of being interrogated by Russian investigators for more than 24 hours – without being allowed a lawyer.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a TV screen as he appears in a video link provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service from the courtroom in Kovrov, Vladimir region, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Navalny, 47, is jailed on charges of extremism. He had been imprisoned in the Vladimir region of central Russia, but was transferred last month to a — Navalny was seen joking on video link just weeks before his death (Picture: AP)

(FILES) This handout picture posted on September 21, 2020 on the Instagram account of @navalny shows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia Navalnaya in Berlin's Charite hospital. Russian opponent Alexei Navalny posted a photo on Instagram showing him and his wife Yulia Navalnaya posing for a picture in the German hospital where he is being treated, proof of his recovery from his suspected poisoning in late August. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died on February 16, 2024 at the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year-term, Russia's federal penitentiary service said in a statement. (Photo by Instagram account @navalny / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT — His family and team have said Putin killed him (Picture: AFP)

She also said the investigators were planning a ‘secret funeral’ for Navalny, adding: ‘They want this to be done secretly, with no farewell.

‘They want to bring me to the edge of a cemetery, to a fresh grave and say: here lies your son. I don’t agree to this.’

Lyudmila went on to explain how the investigators took her to the morgue to see Navalny’s body, then blackmailed her.

She added: ‘They received orders from either the Kremlin or the central office of the Investigative Committee right in front of me. ‘

Navalny’s mum is pushing for a public funeral for those ‘who cared about Alexei’ to have an opportunity to say goodbye to him.

Lyudmila said: ‘I’m recording this video because they started threatening me, looking me in my eyes and saying if I don’t agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my son’s body.’

Mother of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Lyudmila Navalnaya, delivers a video address in Salekhard, in the Yamal-Nenets Region, Russia, in this still image taken from a handout video released February 22, 2024. Alexei Navalny YouTube Channel/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. — Lyudmila told her story on camera because of threats she received (Picture: Reuters)

FILE PHOTO: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via video link from the IK-2 corrective penal colony in Pokrov before a court hearing to consider an appeal against his prison sentence, in Moscow, Russia May 17, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina//File Photo — Navalny was a fierce proponent for a free Russia (Picture: Reuters)

One investigator told Lyudmila: ‘Time is not working for you. The corpse is decomposing.’

He became a thorn in the leader’s eyes in his crusade against corruption, calling him a ‘madman’, his ruling party ‘crooks and thieves’ and publishing documents showing their crimes.

But his death has raised more questions than answers – his body was found with ‘signs of bruising’ after ‘spies’ were seen at the prison where he died.

And Putin had tried to kill Navalny before – causing him to fall into a coma while on an airplane and resulting in Navalny living abroad while recuperating.

Navalny’s family has pledged to continue his fight even as they are mourning less than a week after his death.

This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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