Russia says an investigation is underway into Navalny’s dying

The Kremlin on Monday confirmed an investigation into the death of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is ongoing and insisted that “all due actions are being taken” to find out the circumstances surrounding his demise.

Navalny, 47, was a widely known determine in Russia and a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He died in an Arctic penal colony, the place had been serving a 19-year jail time period.

World leaders reacted with dismay and suspicion to the information, whereas Navalny’s allies say the anti-corruption campaigner was doubtless murdered on Putin’s orders. The Kremlin has rejected these allegations, with the Russian international ministry calling the response from political leaders “self-exposing,” on condition that no forensic medical examination has but been made accessible.

“The investigation is being carried out, all due actions are being taken. But no results of this investigation have been published so far, they are not known yet,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned Monday at a day by day information briefing, in accordance with a NBC Information translation.

“When there is no information, we consider it totally unacceptable to make such statements, which are quite rude and gross, to say frankly,” he added, referring to feedback from political leaders blaming Putin for Navalny’s dying.

U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned Friday that “Putin is responsible” for Navalny’s dying. “Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death … What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality.”

Requested whether or not the Kremlin was fascinated about a correct probe into Navanly’s dying, Peskov replied, “Actions provided for by Russia’s legislation are being taken.”

Earlier on Monday, Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said that Navalny’s mom and attorneys had been blocked from coming into a mortuary the place his physique could possibly be being saved.

Yarmysh mentioned on social media platform X that one among Navalny’s attorneys was “literally pushed out” and workers refused to reply questions concerning the whereabouts of his physique.

CNBC couldn’t independently confirm the report. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in blocking the return of Navalny’s physique to his family.

“This is not a question for us, we are not involved in this matter. This is not a function of the President’s Administration,” Peskov mentioned.

Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s spouse, on Monday mentioned that she believed her husband was killed by Putin. In a video assertion published on Navalny’s YouTube channel, Navalnaya vowed to proceed his work and referred to as on others to hitch her.

Navalny, who had been held behind bars in Russia since 2021, produced quite a few studies on the corruption that had flourished throughout Putin’s management.

Famously, Putin has a long-running custom of refusing to say Navalny by identify in public — a choice the Kremlin has beforehand mentioned stems from the president’s views of the critic.

Navalny had sought to problem Putin for Russia’s presidency, however his candidacy was barred in 2018. Putin will run for president as soon as once more subsequent month, in an election the place he faces solely token opposition.