The body of Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny has been released to his mother, as confirmed by his spokesperson and aide.
Yarmysh stated that the specifics of his funeral arrangements remain undecided, adding uncertainty about potential interference from authorities.
Navalny, the most outspoken critic of Putin, passed away in February under dubious circumstances while in custody.
“On Saturday, Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh expressed gratitude, stating, ‘Alexey’s body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who advocated for this alongside us,’ on X.”
Alexey Navalny: The opposition voice of Russia
Navalny, aged 47 and widely regarded as the foremost opposition figure in Russia, passed away on February 16 in a maximum-security Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence on “extremism” charges.
Navalny was known for producing video exposés uncovering corruption at the highest echelons of power.
Many people believe that he was murdered due to his role as a key critic of Putin and his policies. Even in jail, he remained a vocal opposition figure. Prior to this, he survived poisoning in 2020, further fueling suspicions surrounding his death.
Earlier, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, had urged for the release of his body for burial, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of ridiculing Orthodox Christian values and subjecting his corpse to “torture.”
Navalny’s widow to continue his struggle
Now that Navalny is no longer with us, Yulia Navalnaya, his widow, will carry on her husband’s fight for a free Russia. 
During her husband’s incarceration, she emerged as a prominent figure, standing by his side during his active protests against Putin. 
In the midst of grief, Yulia is shattered like everyone else, yet she has made the courageous decision to carry on her husband’s fight and stand with those who believed in Navalny.
