Widow of Navalny accuses Putin of mocking Christianity for refusing to return her husband’s body

The widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has accused President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity by trying to force his mother to agree to a secret funeral after her son's death in a penal colony. Yulia Navalnaya said in a video released Saturday that Navalny's mother, who wants her son's body returned to her, is being "literally tortured" by authorities who had threatened to bury Navalny in the Arctic prison.

According to reports, Navalny died on August 26, 2020, while serving a two-year sentence for fraud and embezzlement. His body was then transported to a penal colony in Omsk, Russia, where it remained until his mother demanded its return. However, authorities refused to release the body, citing concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

In an effort to resolve the situation, Navalny's mother agreed to allow the body to be buried in a secret location within the penal colony. However, Yulia Navalnaya claims that this was done without her consent and that her mother is being pressured by authorities to agree to the burial.

Russians on social media have expressed outrage over the situation, with many calling it an insult to Christianity and a violation of Navalny's rights. Some have also accused Putin of trying to silence Navalny's voice by denying his mother access to his body.

It is worth noting that Russia has a long history of burying political opponents in secret locations, often without their families' consent. This practice has been criticized by human rights organizations and international leaders alike as a violation of basic human rights.