According to the U.N. human rights expert on Russia, Mariana Katzarova, Alexei Navalny’s death is the responsibility of Moscow. She stated that Navalny either died in prison or from conditions in detention that amounted to torture. In an event on Russian political prisoners at the United Nations in Geneva, Katzarova told Reuters that “the Russian government is responsible, one way or another, for his death.”
Russia’s spy chief has previously claimed that Navalny, who passed away on Feb. 16 in an Arctic prison, died a natural death.
Katzarova expressed concerns that other detainees in Russia could face the same fate as Navalny, particularly mentioning her worries about opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza and others. She stated, “Ever since the death of Alexei Navalny, there is no day passing without asking myself, who is the next Navalny? And there will be a next Navalny, for sure, with this level of repression.”
The Kremlin has consistently painted Navalny and his supporters as lawbreakers and instruments of the West, orchestrating efforts to destabilize Russia. It has refuted accusations made by Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, accusing President Vladimir Putin of orchestrating Navalny’s death.
Last week, Navalnaya remarked that the widespread public support for Navalny following his death is evidence that his cause remains alive. She called for a large protest against Putin on March 17, marking election day.
(Reporting by Emma Farge and Cecile Mantovani; editing by Mark Heinrich)
