Nine days after the death of Russian opposition leader Aleksej Navalnyj, his body has been handed over to his mother, Ljudmila Navalnaja, as confirmed by Navalnyj's press secretary on X.

The transfer comes amid speculation and initial accusations that Navalnyj was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.

However, Ukraine has recently stated that Navalnyj died of natural causes, specifically a blood clot, a claim supported by the chief of Ukraine's military intelligence service.

This statement contradicts the family's belief, strongly asserted by Navalnyj's widow, that he was murdered by the Kremlin.

The uncertainty around the possibility of a public funeral and the involvement of Russian authorities in the process remains.