Russia rejects accusations of poisoning Navalny: European report and Kremlin response
The Kremlin on Monday categorically rejected the findings of a joint investigation by five European countries, which alleged that prominent Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died after being exposed to a rare toxic substance while in detention. The Kremlin spokesman described the accusations as "biased" and lacking any concrete evidence.
Moscow's stance on European investigations
At his daily press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the report issued by Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Peskov told reporters, "We absolutely reject such accusations. We disagree with them entirely and consider them to be politically motivated and unfounded conclusions." These remarks came in response to the report published by the five countries on Saturday, based on investigations and analyses indicating that Navalny was poisoned in his Siberian prison.
The family's demands for justice
The Russian statements coincided with the anniversary of Navalny's death, during which his mother, Lyudmila Navalnya, delivered a moving speech near her son's grave in Moscow's Borisovskoye Cemetery. "This European conclusion confirms what we knew from the beginning. We knew that my son did not die a natural death in prison, but was assassinated," Lyudmila said, demanding justice and a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Historical context: From the first poisoning to the arrest
To understand the dimensions of this controversy, we must go back a little, to when Navalny miraculously survived an attempt to poison him with the nerve agent Novichok in the summer of 2020 during a flight in Siberia. He was then transferred to Germany for treatment in a coma, an incident for which the West accused Moscow, while Russia denied any involvement. After his recovery, Navalny returned to Russia in January 2021, only to be arrested upon arrival at the airport, sparking widespread protests and a new wave of tension between Russia and the West.
Circumstances of death and its geopolitical impact
Alexei Navalny died on February 16, 2024, at the age of 47, in a remote penal colony in the Arctic known as "Arctic Wolf," notorious for its extremely harsh conditions. Russian authorities declared his death to be from natural causes, but the timing and circumstances of his death sparked a storm of international condemnation.
This event represents a major point of contention that further deepens the rift in relations between Russia and Western countries, especially given the ongoing war in Ukraine. Observers believe that reopening the investigation into Navalny's death through new international inquiries could pave the way for additional sanctions against Moscow and solidify Navalny's image as a symbol of the Russian political opposition, even after his passing.
