Kremlin accused of 'concealing evidence' in disappearance of Alexei Navalny's body

Close allies of Alexei Navalny accuse the Kremlin of "concealing evidence," as two days after the death of the opposition leader while in prison, his body still hasn't been located and the cause of his death remains unknown - "The Guardian" reported on Monday.

Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, alongside a lawyer, paid a visit over the weekend to the "Polar Wolf" IK-3 penal colony in northern Russia, where Navalny had been residing since last year. They intended to collect his body but found themselves receiving contrasting accounts from various institutions regarding its location - as reported by "The Guardian".

Lyudmila was initially informed that her son's body had been transported to Salekhard, a town near the prison site. However, upon reaching the morgue on Saturday, they found it to be closed. - Employees are sending us in circles and concealing evidence, stated Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh.

The official prison services statement issued on 16th February reports that Alexei Navalny fainting and losing consciousness following a walk in the prison yard, which subsequently led to his passing after unsuccessful attempts at resuscitation.

Independent media outlets have identified several inconsistencies in the information provided by the authorities. These discrepancies include claims that Navalny was meant to be in the exercise yard during meal times and an ambulance travelled a distance of approximately 22 miles in a mere seven minutes. The speed with which state-run media reported on the matter is also a cause for suspicion.