MOSCOW, RUSSIA- The death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, 47, has ignited a heated controversy, with his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, demanding President Vladimir Putin’s to hand over her son’s body. 

The mother’s outcry came following Navalny’s sudden demise after a walk where he fell unconscious on Friday February 26 at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony, where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said.

In a video message, Navalnaya expressed her frustration at being denied access to her son’s body and demanded its immediate release. 

She also dispatched an official letter to Putin, reiterating her demand for the return of Navalny’s remains.

“For a fifth day I cannot see him, they aren’t giving me his body and don’t even tell me where he is,” Navalnaya said in the message which was broadcast on the Navalny LIVE YouTube channel.

“I appeal to you, Vladimir Putin. Resolving this issue depends on you alone. Let me finally see my son.

“I demand that Alexei’s body be released immediately so that I can bury him humanely.”

Navalny’s allies have contested the delay in releasing his body, citing the explanation by Russian investigators that they require 14 days to conduct chemical tests. 

Critics view this delay as suspicious, fueling speculation and accusations of foul play.

Both the West and Navalny’s supporters have blamed Putin for the premature death of their leader. The President has flatly rejected Western accusations of responsibility and denied any involvement.

The President of Russia has not publicly commented on Navalny’s passing, but it has widened the gap between Moscow and the West that has been created by the nearly two-year conflict in Ukraine. 

As calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, the world watches closely for developments in this war, eager for insights into the evolving dynamics between Russia and the international community.

Sources:(1),(2),(3)Keep Reading: Tension escalates between Ukraine and Russia