They denounce that the Kremlin is eliminating evidence of the death of Alexei Navalny

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Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny’s Death Shrouded in Mystery

The death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has sparked accusations against the Kremlin of a cover-up and raised questions about the cause of death and the whereabouts of his body.

Ivan Zhdanov, director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, claimed that Navalny’s lawyer and mother were told that he died of “sudden death syndrome,” a vague term referring to various cardiac conditions. Preliminary reports suggest Navalny’s body was taken to a hospital, but an employee at the morgue denied that his body had arrived there.

Russian prison authorities reported that Navalny felt unwell and lost consciousness after a walk in the prison, but the cause of death is still being established. This has resulted in widespread mourning and protests across Russia, with people paying tribute to Navalny and displaying banners accusing the authorities of foul play.

The mourning has led to a crackdown on civil society, with more than 350 people detained in unscheduled memorial services in 32 Russian cities. Among those detained was Father Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a St. Petersburg priest who was later hospitalized after suffering a stroke.

In a show of international solidarity, Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, is set to meet with foreign ministers from the 27 member states at the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that the meeting will be an occasion to “send a strong message of support to freedom fighters in Russia and honor the memory of Alexei Navalny.”

Navalny had survived poisoning in 2020 and had been detained since 2021, convicted of “extremism.” His death comes one month before the elections in Russia, which are expected to solidify President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power. This has raised concerns about the future of the opposition in Russia amidst intensifying repression.