Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, has vowed to carry on her husband’s mission following reports of his death in prison, accusing the Russian president of his murder and urging defiance against Vladimir Putin.

In a video statement posted on Navalny’s YouTube channel, Yulia Navalnaya directly accused Vladimir Putin of being responsible for her husband’s death, stating, “I should not be here, recording this video. Someone else should be in my place, but Vladimir Putin killed that person.

“Three days ago, Putin killed my husband, Alexei Navalny.”

She asserted that Navalny’s death in a remote Russian prison was not just a personal loss but a blow to the hopes of many Russians for a different future, alleging that Putin aimed to extinguish those hopes along with Navalny.

She described Navalny’s three years of suffering and torture in isolation in the prison, emphasizing that Putin failed to break him and resorted to cowardly murder instead.

Yulia Navalnaya further criticised the authorities for concealing Navalny’s body, denying access to his mother, and spreading falsehoods, suggesting they were waiting for any traces of another “Novichok” incident to disappear.

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

Despite the tragedy, Yulia Navalnaya affirmed her determination to continue Alexei Navalny’s fight, calling for unified and intensified opposition against the Putin regime and its allies.

She highlighted Navalny’s willingness to sacrifice his life for Russia and pledged to carry on his legacy fiercely and boldly.

She urged unity in the struggle for a free, peaceful, and prosperous Russia without Putin, advocating for a dignified nation.

Quoting her husband’s words, she emphasised the importance of action, stating, “It’s shameful to do little, shameful to do nothing, shameful to be intimidated.

“We must fight against war, corruption, and injustice, fight for fair elections and freedom of speech, fight to reclaim our country.”

Yulia Navalnaya concluded by urging resilience and fearlessness, stating, “I am not afraid, and neither should you be.”