Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, has disclosed that independent foreign laboratories have confirmed he was poisoned during his incarceration in a Siberian penal facility. Navalnaya stated that biological samples, covertly obtained from Navalny, were analyzed by two separate international labs, both arriving at the identical conclusion: Navalny was deliberately poisoned.
When questioned at a press briefing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed no prior knowledge of these findings. Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, passed away in February 2024 at the age of 47 while serving time in a penal colony located above the Arctic Circle. Russian officials reported that he collapsed during an outdoor prison exercise, but Navalnaya and his supporters have consistently accused Putin of orchestrating his death. The Russian government has repeatedly denied any involvement.
Navalny’s demise ignited global demonstrations, with protesters gathering outside Russian diplomatic missions in cities such as Berlin and Paris, holding placards that read “Putin is a murderer” and “Putin must face justice at The Hague.” In a message shared on X, Navalnaya reaffirmed her commitment to uncovering the truth behind her husband’s death. “Eighteen months ago, I vowed to pursue every avenue to investigate Alexey’s murder. We remain steadfast in that promise,” she declared.
She further explained that those responsible for Navalny’s poisoning took meticulous steps to eliminate evidence, yet his allies succeeded in securing biological samples and sending them abroad for examination. “Laboratories in at least two different countries conducted independent analyses, and both reached the same verdict: Alexey was killed by poisoning,” Navalnaya emphasized.
Although she did not reveal the specific toxin identified, Navalnaya urged the laboratories to make their findings public. She also shared photographs purportedly showing Navalny’s prison cell, including an image of his vomit. Navalny’s team confirmed they have yet to receive the complete laboratory reports but indicated that publicizing the information aims to pressure the labs into releasing their full results. The identities of the countries involved in the testing remain undisclosed.
In 2021, Navalny returned to Russia after recuperating in Germany from a poisoning incident involving Novichok, a nerve agent developed during the Soviet era. Upon arrival, he was promptly detained and later convicted on charges he described as politically motivated. He was transferred to the Polar Wolf penal colony in Siberia, known for its severe conditions, where he reportedly resorted to sleeping beneath a newspaper to keep warm. Following his death, his family was denied access to his body for several days, fueling further suspicions of foul play.
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