Peskov on releasing Navalny’s body to relatives: The Kremlin is not involved in this

An investigation into the circumstances of the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny is underway, said Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov. According to him, questions about when all the necessary procedures will be completed and the body will be given to relatives are not within the competence of the Kremlin.

“This question is not for us. And we are not involved in this matter. This is not a function of the presidential administration ,” the presidential press secretary responded to a corresponding question during a press call.

Peskov assured that the investigation into the death of the oppositionist is still underway. “In conditions where there is no information, it is absolutely unacceptable to make such, let’s say, frankly boorish statements,” he commented on the reaction of Western politicians to the death of Alexei Navalny.

On February 16, the Federal Penitentiary Service ( FSIN ) announced the  death of an oppositionist in penal colony No. 3 “Polar Wolf” in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. According to the Federal Penitentiary Service, the politician felt ill after a walk and lost consciousness. The foreign ministers of the G7 countries and the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called on the Russian authorities to clarify the circumstances of the death of Alexei Navalny.

Today, February 19, his press secretary Kira Yarmysh (declared a foreign agent) reported that the Investigative Committee notified the oppositionist’s mother and lawyers about the extension of the investigation into his death for an indefinite period. According to her, representatives of the department said that the cause of death of the politician has not yet been established.