Death in a prison camp
“I will continue Alexei Navalny’s cause”: Kremlin critic’s widow declares war on Putin
Julia Navalnaya, wife of Alexei Navalny, during her speech at the security conference in Munich
© Kai Pfaffenbach / Pool Reuters / AP / DPA
Alexei Navalny’s widow addressed the public and Putin in an emotional video. She wants to campaign for a free Russia and makes serious accusations against the Kremlin ruler.
The widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in a prison camp, is head of the Kremlin She declared war on Vladimir Putin and wants to continue her husband’s work. “I will continue Alexei Navalny’s cause, fight for our country. I call on you to stand by my side,” said Yulia Navalnaya in an emotional video message published on YouTube on Monday. The mother of two tearfully accused Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin of not only killing her husband. Putin also tried to deprive Russia of hope for freedom and justice. That’s why she now wants to continue her husband’s fight.
In the video with many private pictures, but also recordings of Navalny’s public appearances, she accused Putin of murdering her husband. “Three days ago, Vladimir Putin killed my husband Alexei Navalny,” she said. Her husband was tortured and tormented to death in the prison camp and repeatedly locked in solitary confinement in a small concrete box. The name of the person who carried out the murder on Putin’s behalf will be released shortly, she said.
Navalny’s widow: “Don’t be afraid”
Now the regime is even hiding the 47-year-old’s body, said Navalnaya. In the video, she also showed a picture of the mother searching for her dead son in the polar region. Putin took away her dearest and most valuable person, half of her soul and heart, said Navalnaya. She now wants to use the other half to fight, like her husband, against injustice and corruption and for a free Russia.
“I’m not afraid,” she said, also referring to a statement by Navalny, who had repeatedly called on people in Russia to resist Putin. But it was unclear whether she would return to Russia.
According to authorities, Navalny died on Friday in the prison camp with the unofficial name “Polar Wolf”. Accordingly, after many days in repeated solitary confinement, the physically weakened Navalny collapsed while walking in the yard in the camp north of the Arctic Circle in freezing temperatures. According to the prison service, attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.