Alexei Navalny death latest: Wife says Kremlin ‘waiting for novichok poison’ to leave his body

Germany will propose new sanctions against Moscow over the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said.

The ministers were already due to discuss the bloc’s 13th package of sanctions against Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Hungary is the only EU state yet to approve the proposed restrictions against nearly 200 firms and people. There was no comment from Budapest following Navalny’s death last Friday.

The EU’s top diplomat suggested that Russian prison officials he said were linked to Navalny’s death could be blacklisted. There was no immediate word of any more hard-hitting measures that could target Russia’s broader economy.

Foreign Office minister Leo Docherty will make a statement in the House of Commons following the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, No 10 said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also expected to hold a Cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon, bringing it forward from its usual Tuesday morning slot.

After paying tribute to Mr Navalny on Monday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “It is very clear that the Russian authorities saw him as a threat and that is why they imprisoned him on fabricated charges.

“The fact that the FSB (the Russian federal security service) poisoned him with a banned nerve agent and then sent him to an Arctic penal colony… His death must be investigated fully, and all of those in the Russian regime must be held to account.

“As I said earlier, the Foreign Office minister will make this statement in the House later.”

The spokesman said he could not comment on possible future sanctions but said the UK had agreed the “most comprehensive package of sanctions ever brought to bear on a major economy” in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said there must be no “obstacles or roadblocks” to providing aid and support to Ukraine.

Mr Martin, who is attending a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels, said the reported death of Mr Navalny while in detention is a reminder of the “repressive and oppressive” Russian regime.

He said this was also relevant to the European Foreign Affairs Council’s discussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, adding: “Because that’s what the people of Ukraine don’t want.”

Mr Martin said there was a necessity for Europe to make sure that there are “no more obstacles or roadblocks to providing the necessary aid and support to Ukraine”.

He added it was also necessary to prevent Russia from making ground.

He told reporters “We now have the greatest degree of sanctions against Russia in the history of EU-Russian Federation relations.” He said sanctions packages will “keep the pressure on”.

Germany’s foreign ministry on Monday summoned Russia’s ambassador in Germany over the death of Alexei Navalny, the country’s most prominent opposition leader, a spokesperson for the ministry said.

“A corresponding meeting will take place today in Berlin with the Russian ambassador,” the spokesperson said during a regular press conference.

Germany expressly demands the release of all those imprisoned in Russia for political reasons, the spokesperson said, adding, “It is shocking that people are being arrested in Russia for laying flowers in honour of Alexei Navalny’s death.”

Alexei Navalny’s widow has said the Kremlin is waiting for traces of the Novichok nerve agent to disappear from his body as she vowed to reveal the names of his killers.

In a video message on Monday, Yulia Navalnaya accused the Russian authorities of hiding the opposition leader’s body, adding that his allies know why her husband was killed and would soon reveal the details.

The Kremlin has denied involvement in his death.

“We know exactly why Putin killed Alexei three days ago,” she said. “We will tell you about it soon. We will definitely find out who exactly carried out this crime and how exactly. We will name the names and show the faces.”

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, said on Monday that she would continue her husband’s fight for a free Russia and called on supporters to battle President Vladimir Putin with greater fury than ever.

“I want to live in a free Russia, I want to build a free Russia,” Navalnaya said in a video message entitled “I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny”.

“Vladimir Putin killed my husband,” Navalnaya said, adding that she would work with the Russian people to battle with the Kremlin to create a new Russia.

The Kremlin has denied involvement in his death.

“By killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me – half of my heart and half of my soul,” Navalnaya said.

“But I still have the other half, and it tells me that I have no right to give up. I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny, continue to fight for our country.”

“I urge you to stand next to me,” she said. “I ask you to share the rage with me. Rage, anger, hatred towards those who dared to kill our future.”

“I was so angry because Putin killed again. He killed again the most prominent politician and the hope of a new Russia,” she said.

Ms Litvinenko added she has “no doubt” about who is responsible for Mr Navalny’s death.

“Putin is a monster.”