Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, broke her silence on Instagram, sharing a photo of herself with Navalny two days after his mysterious death in prison, captioned “I Love You.” Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, demanded the immediate release of Navalny’s body to his family, accusing Russian officials of lying and delaying the process. The Russian prison service claimed Navalny died after feeling unwell during a walk and falling unconscious, though the cause of death remains unclear.
Navalny had returned to Russia from Germany in 2021, where he was treated for poisoning with Novichok, and was arrested upon arrival on politically motivated charges. The news of Navalny’s death prompted outrage from Western leaders, with US President Joe Biden blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin. British PM Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and EU President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed condolences and held Moscow responsible.
Yulia Navalnaya is set to meet with European foreign ministers in Brussels, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stating that ministers will convey support to Russian freedom fighters and honor Navalny’s memory. Navalnaya also attended the Munich Security Conference, delivering a speech where she held Putin and his government accountable for their actions against her family and country. She emphasized that they would bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions.
