The widow of Alexei Navalny has claimed her husband was poisoned with “some kind of novichok” and says she will “soon reveal details” on why he was killed.
In a video statement on Monday, Yulia Navalnaya accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of killing her husband, and subsequently “hiding” his body to ensure traces of the nerve agent disappear.
It comes after Mr Navalny’s mother was denied access to the morgue where his body is believed to be.
Mrs Navalnaya vowed to name those involved in his death and said he was killed because Mr Putin “couldn’t break him”.
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“We know exactly why Putin killed Alexei three days ago,” she said.
“We will tell you about it soon. We will definitely find out who exactly carried out this crime and how exactly. We will name the names and show the faces.”
Many world leaders have blamed Mr Putin and his government for Mr Navalny’s death, accusations that have been fiercely rejected by the Kremlin.
Taking aim at comments made by the US and other Western states, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the “obnoxious” statements would not harm the Russian president.
The body of the 47-year-old has reportedly been taken to the Salekhard District Clinical Hospital morgue, but Mr Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, and his lawyers were “not allowed to go in” after travelling to see his body.
The investigative committee then told Mr Navalny’s allies, including his relative, that his “cause of death is still unknown” and the probe into how he died has been extended, according to Navalny spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh.
Ms Yarmysh accused the committee of lying and trying to “buy time for themselves” – alleging that officials’ refusal to hand over his body was part of a cover-up of his “murder”.
“Alexei’s mother and his lawyers arrived at the morgue early in the morning,” she said.
“They were not allowed to go in. One of the lawyers was literally pushed out. When the staff was asked if Alexei’s body was there, they did not answer.”
