Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, says new findings confirm what she believed from the start. She says her son was murdered.
On the second anniversary of his death, she visited his grave in Moscow. She said the recent assessment proves he did not die of natural causes. According to a joint statement from the United Kingdom and European allies, Navalny was killed using a poison derived from a dart frog toxin. Officials stated that only the Russian state had the resources and motive to use such a substance.
The Kremlin has not accepted these claims. Russian authorities previously stated that Navalny died of natural causes while in prison.
A Leading Critic of Vladimir Putin
Alexei Navalny was one of the strongest critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin
He built his reputation by exposing corruption at high levels of government. His investigations attracted millions of views online. His anti corruption campaigns also brought large crowds onto the streets. Supporters inside and outside Russia often described him as the country’s most visible opposition figure.
Earlier Poisoning and Arrest
In 2020, Navalny survived a poisoning attempt involving the Novichok nerve agent. He received treatment in Germany and later recovered. Despite the risk, he returned to Russia in 2021. He said he would not abandon his country or his beliefs.
Police arrested him immediately upon arrival. A court later sentenced him to prison. In 2024, he died at the Polar Wolf penal colony above the Arctic Circle.
Authorities delayed the release of his body. After public pressure, they handed it over to his family. He was buried in Moscow in March 2024. Thousands attended his funeral despite fears of police action. That gathering became one of the last large public displays of opposition in Russia.
Growing Crackdown in Russia
Pressure on critics of the government has increased in recent years. The crackdown intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Lawmakers introduced strict new laws. Courts handed down long prison terms for protest activity and online criticism.
Several of Navalny’s allies now sit in jail. Others left the country. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, now leads the Anti Corruption Foundation. She lives abroad with their two children and faces possible arrest if she returns.
Meanwhile, Russia’s opposition movement in exile remains divided. Different groups struggle to unite around a common strategy.
