Alexei Navalny’s mother: “If I do not agree to a secret funeral, they’ll do something with my son’s body”

In a video released on social media, Alexei Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, said that she recorded a video because investigators were “threatening” her, AFP reports.

Navalnaya, who said she was taken secretly to a morgue to view her son’s body, said that Russian officials are blackmailing her over the conditions for where, when and how her son should be buried.

“I want that for those of you for whom Alexei is dear, for everyone for whom his death became a personal tragedy, to have the possibility to say goodbye to him,” AFP reports her saying.

“Looking me in the eye, they said that if I do not agree to a secret funeral, they’ll do something with my son’s body … I ask for my son’s body to be given to me immediately,” she added.

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Navalny’s mother denied access to morgue in Russia – spokesperson

Alexei Navalny’s mother and his lawyers were denied entry to the morgue in the Russian town of Salekhard, near the prison colony where authorities claim he died, according to Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh.

“One of the lawyers was physically pushed out,” Yarmysh wrote on X, further stating that morgue staff refused to disclose the location of Navalny’s body.

Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, and his lawyer traveled to the notorious “Polar Wolf” IK-3 penal colony in Russia’s Arctic north, where Navalny had been held since last year, in an attempt to locate his body. However, they were given conflicting information about its whereabouts from different institutions and left without finding or seeing their son.

Navalny, a prominent critic of the Kremlin, was serving a lengthy prison sentence on various charges, the most recent being a 19-year term on six counts, in the remote penal colony within the Arctic Circle. He had been imprisoned since his return from Germany in January 2021, rejecting the charges as politically motivated.

The 47-year-old former lawyer fell unconscious and died on Friday after a walk at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony in Kharp, located approximately 1,900km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, as reported by the prison service.

Navalny’s mother was informed on Saturday at the prison colony that her son had died from “sudden death syndrome,” a vague term encompassing various heart conditions that lead to death, according to Navalny’s team.

Yarmysh stated that Lyudmila Navalnaya, 69, and the lawyers were informed that the official cause of death was still under verification and that it remained uncertain how long the process would take.

“The cause of death is ‘undetermined’,” Yarmysh revealed, accusing the Russian authorities of lying and delaying the investigation.

Russia declares complete territorial dominance over Avdiivka – Russian media outlets

According to reports from Russian news agencies, Russian forces have reportedly gained complete control over the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka and have advanced approximately 8.6 km (5.3 miles) along the frontline in that area, as announced by the Russian defence ministry.

As per Reuters, Russia proclaimed the capture of Avdiivka after Ukraine’s retreat, although Moscow acknowledged the presence of some Ukrainian troops still entrenched within a vast coke plant built during the Soviet era, following one of the most intense battles of the war.

A visual representation by The Guardian depicting Russian-controlled territory, advancements, and regions where Ukraine has managed to regain control. A visual representation by The Guardian depicting Russian-controlled territory, advancements, and regions where Ukraine has managed to regain control.

In response to the news of Alexei Navalny’s passing on Friday, six individuals from Russia shared their perspectives on what they believe his death will signify for the country’s future.

The news of Navalny’s demise has sparked intense feelings of anger and sorrow among his supporters. While some perceive his popularity to be confined to a specific demographic, others view him as a symbolic figure who brought together people from various backgrounds.

Biden declares Putin and ‘his henchmen’ responsible for Navalny’s demise

Joe Biden firmly asserts that Vladimir Putin bears full responsibility for the demise of Alexei Navalny while in a Russian prison.

Addressing the White House in his initial remarks following the news of the death of one of Putin’s most vocal critics, the US president states that he, like millions of people worldwide, is “not at all surprised and deeply angered by the reported passing of Alexei Navalny.”

Make no mistake. Putin is accountable for Navalny’s death.

Putin is to be blamed. The ongoing situation only reinforces Putin’s brutality. Nobody should be deceived, be it in Russia or anywhere else in the world, regarding Putin’s targeting not only of foreign citizens, as seen in the current events in Ukraine, but also of his own people, inflicting heinous crimes upon them.

During a subsequent Q&A session with reporters, Biden mentions that formal confirmation of the Russian opposition leader’s passing is still awaited by the US but expresses no doubt about it.

When asked if he considers it an “assassination,” Biden responds:

The answer is that we don’t have all the details yet. However, there is no question that Navalny’s death is a result of something done by Putin and his henchmen.

‘Significant progress’ made on defence investment, Nato chief announces

Addressing journalists following the Nato defence ministers’ conference, Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of the alliance, stated that “today we have made significant progress in terms of resourcing our new defence plans and bolstering our transatlantic defence industry.”

He emphasized that this endeavor necessitates substantial investment, adding that they are on the right trajectory to achieve their objectives.

Stoltenberg revealed that by 2024, European Nato members will contribute a combined sum of $380 billion toward defence, which corresponds to 2% of their total GDP for the first time.

President Zelenskiy has appointed Oleksandr Pavliuk, a former first deputy defense minister, as the new commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, according to a decree released on Sunday.
Pavliuk, a lieutenant-general who served in the ministry role for a year, replaces Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi after he was appointed this week as commander of Ukraine’s armed forces.
On Saturday, Zelenskiy announced five other senior military appointments, completing a renewed team aimed at strengthening defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion. Reuters reports that Ukraine
is facing challenges with manpower and equipment shortage as it enters 2024, having made limited progress on the battlefield in the past year. Furthermore, it is currently dealing with a disruption in military support from the United States, its largest supporter.

Zelenskiy confirms two fatalities in Kyiv as result of Russian missile strike

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced that two individuals lost their lives in the capital city of Kyiv during a missile attack orchestrated by Russia.

According to Zelenskiy’s statement on the Telegram messaging app, more than 10 people sustained injuries, and there is a possibility of additional casualties trapped beneath the debris.

Zelenskiy urges Ukrainian parliament to prolong martial law and general mobilisation

Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has presented a request to the Ukrainian parliament seeking an extension of martial law and general mobilisation for an additional 90 days.

According to the Kyiv Independent:

In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine commencing on February 24, 2022, the president initially declared martial law and general mobilisation. Since then, these measures have been repeatedly extended.

Parliament previously extended martial law and mobilisation from November 2023 to February 14, 2024.

Zelenskiy’s proposal aims to further extend these measures until May 14.

Lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak stated that this would be the parliament’s tenth vote on martial law since the conflict began.

Under martial law, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60, with some exceptions, are restricted from leaving the country as they may be called up for military duty.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks at a press conference in Switzerland. Photograph: Reuters

Military training of Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk Oblast on Saturday 3 February Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

More than 800 Russian soldiers died in the conflict yesterday, according to the overnight update of the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

The figures, which have not been independently verified, put the total Russian losses from the war at 388,750 troops.

According to the report, Russia also lost 13 armoured vehicles, two tanks, 31 artillery systems, and 41 vehicles and fuel tanks in Saturday’s fighting