The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mother, his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh has said.

“Alexei’s body was given to his mother. Thank you very much to everyone who demanded this with us,” she wrote on X.

She added that details of his funeral are yet to come, and it is unclear if authorities will “interfere” with how it is carried out.

“We will provide information as it becomes available,” she said.

It comes after Mr Navalny’s mother was given an ultimatum yesterday, with Russian authorities saying he would be buried in the penal colony where he died unless she agreed within three hours to lay him to rest without a public funeral.

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Earlier Saturday, Yulia Navalnaya, the 47-year-old’s widow, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity by trying to force his mother to agree to a secret funeral after his death in a penal colony.

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Mr Navalny had been a vocal critic of the Russian president and campaigned against official corruption. He also led major anti-Kremlin protests.

While the cause of his death remains unknown, Western leaders including US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have made clear they hold Mr Putin responsible.

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