Navalny widow: Putin ‘must answer for what he has done’

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, said in an emotional speech on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “must answer for what he did to Russia and her husband’s death.” ” he said.

“President Putin must answer for what he has done to our country. President Putin must answer for what he has done to our peaceful neighbors. “I have to answer for everything I did to Alexei,” she said. her passionate speech To the European Parliament.

Russian authorities announced Navalny’s death on February 16, saying that Putin’s biggest rival had become unwell after taking a walk and lost consciousness. Officials said attempts to revive him after calling an ambulance were unsuccessful.

Navalny’s mother was later informed that her son had died of “sudden death syndrome.” This term is a vague term used to describe a variety of heart syndromes that can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death. After Navalny’s death, his family pressed Russian authorities to release his body, saying they would keep it pending further investigation.

Ivan Zhdanov, chairman of Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation, confirmed over the weekend that Navalny’s body had been returned to his mother. His funeral is scheduled for Friday, but Navalnaya said there are concerns that people will be arrested for honoring his life.

“I thought 12 days after Alexei’s murder would give me time to prepare this speech. But first we spent a week collecting Alexei’s body and preparing his funeral. for a week. Then we will choose the cemetery and coffin. The funeral will be held the day after tomorrow,” Navalnaya said.

“And it remains to be seen whether it will be peaceful or whether the police will arrest the people who came to say goodbye to their husbands,” she added.

In the days after Navalny’s death, hundreds of people were detained across Russia for mourning him. In her speech, she also vowed again to continue the work of her late husband, who was serving a 19-year sentence for extremism.

“My husband will never see what the beautiful Russia of the future will look like, but we must see it,” she said, to applause. “I will do my best to make his dream come true. Evil will be destroyed and a beautiful future will come.”