Had demanded EU

Kremlin rejects investigation into Navalny’s death

Memorial for the Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny(Bild: APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

The Kremlin has rejected an international investigation into the death of imprisoned opposition figure Alexei Navalny. "We do not accept such demands at all," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday, referring to the EU. The government sees this as interference in its internal affairs.

EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell had previously called for such an investigation into the body, which is being kept under lock and key in Russia. Representatives of the EU member states have issued a joint statement on Navalny's death (see video above).

On Tuesday, Peskov also rejected Yulia Navalny's accusations that Russian President Vladimir Putin had killed her husband. This was "unfounded and outrageous." In a video message on Monday, the 47-year-old blamed Putin for Navalny's death in the prison camp north of the Arctic Circle. At the same time, she announced that she would continue her husband's fight against the Russian system.

Memorial for Alexei Navalny in front of the Russian embassy(Bild: APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

Peskov: Did not watch the video message
Neither he nor Putin had watched the video message, said Peskov. As Navalny is currently a widow, he is holding back from making any further comments. At the same time, however, the Kremlin spokesman defended the brutal action taken by security forces against Russians who laid flowers and lit candles in many cities across the country in memory of the deceased Putin opponent. The police had carried out their duties in accordance with the law, said Peskov.

As reported , hundreds of people have been detained in recent days for publicly commemorating Navalny. Courts have imposed fines or even imprisonment in summary proceedings. Navalny's team criticized the fact that people had already been arrested for simply laying flowers. Despite this, many Russians continue to publicly express their grief.