Body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was allegedly discovered in a morgue several days after it was reported missing. An unnamed paramedic told an independent news outlet that the body showed traces of bruising.
The paramedic said the bodies of those who die in prison are usually taken straight to the Foreign Medicine Bureau, “but his body was taken to a clinical hospital for some reason.” The “bruises” on his body resembled marks that one suffers when being held down during a seizure, he added.
Alexei Navalny, a staunch adversary of President Vladimir Putin, died in the remote Arctic prison colony while serving a 19-year sentence. He went for a walk and was unable to be revived after losing consciousness, according to jail officials.
Lyudmila, his mother, was informed by prison officials that he died of “sudden death syndrome”. Lyudmila and Navalny’s lawyer arrived at the prison on Saturday, but were denied access to his body. They were told that his remains could not be given over until an investigation was completed.
His supporters have accused Russian authorities of murdering him and said that they are refusing to hand over the body to “cover their tracks”.
Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has previously stated that she was skeptical of the news of her husband’s death because it originated from Russian government sources.
The death of Alexei Navalny sparked Western indignation and condemnation, with US President Joe Biden calling Putin “responsible for Navalny’s death”.