Navalnaya demands release of Navalny's body, accuses Putin of hypocrisy
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has publicly demanded the release of her husband's body for burial, accusing President Vladimir Putin of using it as a "hostage" and engaging in a form of posthumous torture.
This accusation comes amid reports that Russian officials are withholding Navalny's body from his family, conditioning its release on a private burial without public honors.
In a heartfelt video message, Navalnaya condemned the Russian president's actions as contradictory to the Christian faith he professes, branding Putin's spirituality as insincere. She highlighted the refusal to release Navalny's body for a proper Christian burial as evidence of this hypocrisy. Navalny, who died in custody, was known for his devout Christian faith and political activism motivated by Christian values, according to his widow.
The situation has escalated with threats from authorities to bury Navalny in the prison colony where he died unless the family complies with their demands. Navalnaya's plea emphasizes the desire for a dignified funeral that respects Orthodox Christian traditions, challenging Putin's claimed allegiance to Russia's Orthodox Church and traditional values.
