Russia will bury Alexei Navalny in the Gulag if his mother does not agree to a private funeral

Alexei Navalny died suddenly last week in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle, where he was serving a three-decade sentence. Photo: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Russian authorities have threatened to bury Alexei Navalny on the territory of the colony where he died unless his family agrees to hold a private funeral.

The oppositionist's team said his mother received an «ultimatum» from the Russian authorities during a visit to the Polar Wolf prison.

“An hour ago, investigators called Alexei’s mother and gave her an ultimatum. She has three hours to agree to a secret funeral without a public farewell, otherwise Alexei will be buried in a colony,” said Navalny’s press secretary Kira Yarmysh.

Navalny, 47, lost consciousness and was the last to die suddenly. a week in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle, where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said.

His 69-year-old mother traveled to the remote IK-3 prison but was reportedly not allowed to see his body .

Navalny's mother Lyudmila Navalnaya asked Vladimir Putin to immediately release her son's body so that I can bury him in a humane way' Photo: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

On Tuesday, Lyudmila Navalnaya appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to hand over the body of her son.

“I am turning to you, Vladimir Putin. The solution to the issue depends only on you,” she said in a video message.

“Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei’s body be immediately released so that I can bury him in a humane manner.”

Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, issued a similar statement, calling on the authorities to allow him to be “buried with dignity.” .

Joe Biden met with Yulia Navalnaya on Thursday, describing her husband as “a man of incredible courage”; Photo: White House/REUTERS

In retaliation for Navani's death, the US imposed sweeping sanctions against Russia on Friday, targeting more than 500 people and entities.

The move was also retaliation for a second death. anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

President Joe Biden said the measures are aimed at making Putin «pay an even higher price for his aggression abroad and repression at home.»

Mr Biden, who has directly blamed Putin for Navalny's death, met with the opposition leader's widow and daughter in California on Thursday and called him «a man of incredible courage.»