Yulia Navalnaya with Alexei Navalny
The Kremlin dismissed charges from the wife of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last week after she claimed President Vladimir Putin was responsible for his death.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, “Of course, these are unfounded and vulgar accusations against the head of the Russian state. But taking into account that Yulia Navalnaya was widowed just days ago, I will not comment”.
The 47-year-old Navalnaya promised to continue her husband’s fight for the ‘freedom of our country’ in a video speech seen by millions online.
Peskov also criticized the EU’s appeal on Monday for an international investigation into Alexei Navalny’s death, which followed talks with Navalnaya in Brussels hosted by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
“We do not accept such demands in general — all the more so from Mr. Borrell”, added Peskov.
When asked about the hundreds of detentions of Russians during gatherings commemorating Alexei Navalny’s death in recent days, he stated, “Law enforcement agencies are acting per the law”.
He also stated that Putin’s decision to honor four top officials at the federal correctional service with military orders on Monday, just days after Alexei Navalny’s death, was part of normal promotion processes that run their course.
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