Alexey Navalny's body is withheld, as the investigation continues

"Navalny’s lawyer who visited the Investigative Committee in Salekhard received the information that "the cause of Alexey's death remains undetermined, and a fresh histological examination is underway". The results are expected to arrive by next week. It is clear that they are employing every possible means to evade releasing the body," writes Kira Yarmysh through Service X (formerly known as Twitter).

"The Investigative Committee has now outright mentioned that Alexey's body will not be handed over to his family until the completion of the investigation," she stated in another post.

Previously, Navalny's spokesperson disclosed that there's no trace of Navalny in the morgue where the oppositionist's remains were reportedly stored, according to the authorities.

"Navalny's lawyer along with his mother arrived at the Salekhard morgue (city in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in northern Russia). Despite assurance from the colony about its operational status and holding Navalny's body, the morgue was shut. The lawyer dialed the telephone number mentioned on the door. The response hinted that he was the seventh caller that day and that Navalny's body is not present in the morgue," reported Yarmysh.

"Meanwhile, when the lawyer and Navalny's mother visited the colony in the morning, they were informed that Navalny's death resulted from sudden death syndrome," Ivan Zhdanov, a fellow oppositionist, reported.

On Saturday, before noon, Navalny's spokesperson confirmed the oppositionist's death, as reported on Service X.

"Alexey Navalny was murdered. His death occurred on February 16 at 11:17 AM Greenwich Time, according to the official message delivered to Alexey's mother," announced Yarmysh on Saturday, before noon.

"A staff member from the colony mentioned that Navalny's body is currently in Salekhard. It has been handed over to the Investigative Committee (IC) for scrutiny. Presently, they are conducting an 'investigation' with it," she further informed.

Moreover, Yarmysh urged for an "immediate release of the body."