Russian authorities have declined to launch a criminal inquiry into the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison colony, according to his widow, Yulia. Navalny, known as a strong critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, passed away in February while serving a 19-year sentence on what he considered to be politically motivated extremism charges. Authorities informed that he fell ill after a walk, but have not provided further information regarding his death.
The Russian officials stated that Navalny died of natural causes following a walk and have adamantly rejected any involvement in either his poisoning or death. Yulia Navalnaya shared in a video on social media that Russian investigators sent her a letter outlining the reasons behind her husband’s passing. In the video, she expressed disagreement with the officials’ account, asserting that Navalny did not display signs of heart disease during his life.
Navalnaya dismissed the information provided in the letter as false, claiming that they are concealing the actual events of the day Navalny fell ill. She mentioned that Navalny was not taken to the medical unit but returned to his cell. She described him as “dying alone” in the punishment cell. The document she received mentioned that no criminal investigation would be initiated into the opposition leader’s death as no crime had been committed.
Navalnaya asserted that there would be no investigation as long as Putin remained in power and vowed to persist in seeking answers regarding her husband’s demise.