Alexei Navalny's body handed over to his mother

(Patria) - The body of Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison, which his relatives had been demanding from the Russian authorities for more than a week, has been handed over to his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, the Russian opposition leader's team announced today, AFP reported.

"Alexei's body has been handed over to his mother," former press secretary for the Kremlin critic Kira Yarmysh wrote on X, adding that she did not yet know if "the authorities will prevent the funeral from being held as the family wishes and as Alexei deserves".

The Russian Investigative Committee has reportedly conveyed demands to Lyudmila Navalnaya, as it appears President Vladimir Putin's administration wants to prevent public mourning and anti-Kremlin sentiment in any farewell to the 47-year-old opposition figure and anti-corruption fighter.

Yarmysh previously stated that Navalnaya had refused to negotiate with an official, saying that the Investigative Committee had no legal right to decide where and how her son should be buried, RSE reports.

"Navalnaya wants to hold the funeral and farewell ceremony in accordance with tradition," Yarmysh wrote.

Russian law states that authorities must hand over the body to family members within two days of the cause of death being officially determined.

Yarmysh said Navalnaya had demanded that the authorities comply with the law and hand over her son's body by February 24, when the two-day period expires.

The day before, Lyudmila Navalnaya said in a video posted on social media that investigators had allowed her to see her son's body late on February 21 in the Arctic city of Salekhard, but refused to hand it over for burial. Navalnaya added that she had signed her son's death certificate.

Family and friends, as well as Western officials, have said Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. His wife Yulia Navalnaya said Putin had killed her husband.

Lyudmila Navalnaya has been trying to gain access to her son's body since his death was announced on February 16 in a harsh Arctic prison.