Navalny's mother pleads to Putin for his body's release amid EU call for new sanctions

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny died on Friday. The authorities are not allowing his family and colleagues into the morgue, prohibiting them from viewing his body.

The politician's mother, Ludmila Navalnaya, shared a video recorded outside the penal colony where her son died.

"It's been five days since I last saw him. They aren't releasing the body, and they won't even tell me where it is," Ludmila Navalnaya stated.

"I am addressing you, Vladimir Putin. The resolution of this problem solely depends on you. I am pleading to see my son. I demand the immediate release of Aleksei's body so that I can give him a humane burial," she said.

Ivan Zhdanov, the director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (Navalny's organization), indicated his intent to bring a lawsuit against the court due to the investigators' inaction in the matter of releasing Navalny's body.

The prison service of the penal colony where Navalny was detained announced his death on February 16. The ensuing day, Navalny's mother arrived at the location. She was subsequently informed that his body was in a morgue in Salekhard. However, upon her arrival at this institution, it was revealed they didn't have Navalny's body.

Navalny's press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, later reported that the investigative committee refused to release the opposition leader's body until the investigation was concluded.

In light of Alexei Navalny's death, many EU leaders are advocating for increased sanctions against Russia and Russian politicians.

Julia Navalnaya, the widow of the deceased opposition leader, accused Vladimir Putin of her husband's death. She also announced her intention to "continue Aleksei's work."

"Keep fighting for our country. I invite you to join me. Share not only the sorrow and limitless pain. Please, share the rage, the resentment towards those who dared to steal our future," she urged.