Navalny's Prison Death Sparks Intense Scrutiny in Northern Russian City
The death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Kremlin critic, has ignited widespread discussion and speculation in the city of Salekhard.
His body, currently held at the Salekhard District Clinical Hospital, remains without an official cause of death as no autopsy has yet been performed, Novaya Gazeta Europe reported.
"Salekhard's close-knit community makes it difficult to maintain secrecy," explained Dmitry, a lifelong resident. "News of Navalny's death has spread rapidly."
Sources indicate that Navalny's body was initially transported to Labitnangi, a city 36 kilometres from the IK-3 penal colony where he died. It was subsequently moved to the Regional Clinical Hospital in Salekhard, an unusual procedural step according to an ambulance worker.
An ambulance doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, described injuries observed on Navalny's body as consistent with severe convulsions. "Bruising can occur during attempts to restrain someone experiencing seizures," they noted. "The presence of chest bruising suggests unsuccessful resuscitation efforts. Cardiac arrest is the likely cause of death, though the underlying reason remains unknown."
The lack of an autopsy on February 16th or 17th may explain both the delay in determining the official cause of death and the authorities' refusal to release Navalny's body to his family.
Navalny's death in prison has drawn international condemnation. World leaders have expressed suspicion of foul play, with many directly implicating Russian President Vladimir Putin in the lead-up to the country's presidential election.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
