The death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has sparked a series of questions and accusations, including over how he died and, crucially, who, if anyone, is responsible.
Several Western leaders, as well as Mr Navalny’s wife, have pointed the finger of blame firmly in the direction of the Kremlin, which has denied involvement.
Here’s what happened after the Kremlin critic’s death in prison:
Announcement of Navalny’s death
On 16 February, the Russian news agency Interfax, citing Russia’s Office of the Federal Penitentiary Service, reported that Mr Navalny had died while serving his sentence at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony.
Russia’s prison service said in a statement that Mr Navalny “felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness”.
‘Sudden death syndrome’
The following day, Mr Navalny’s spokesperson confirmed that the Kremlin critic had died and labelled his death as a “murder”.
Ivan Zhdanov, an ally of the dissident, claimed on social media site X that Mr Navalny’s mother and lawyer had been told by officials at the penal colony he was being held that his death was the result of “sudden death syndrome”.
Sudden death syndrome is a vague term for different cardiac syndromes that cause sudden cardiac arrest and death.
Body not released
Mr Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, fought with authorities for eight days for the release of her son’s body.
They originally claimed his body couldn’t be handed over as it required post-mortem tests.
Ms Navalnaya recorded a video message urging Vladimir Putin to release the body so she could bury her son with dignity.
His allies said his body was released on 25 February.
Widow claims Navalny was poisoned
Days after her husband’s death, Yulia Navalnaya released a video statement in which she accused Mr Putin of killing her husband and subsequently “hiding” his body.
During the statement, she said he was poisoned “by another of Putin’s novichoks” and his body was initially not being released to ensure traces of whatever agent it was that killed him disappear.
What has the Kremlin said?
The Kremlin said an investigation into his death was being “carried out in accordance with Russian law”.
Reacting to global leaders laying the blame for Mr Navalny’s death firmly at Mr Putin’s door, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the “obnoxious” statements would not harm the Russian president.
Crackdown in Russia
More than 400 people were detained across 32 cities in Russia after Mr Navalny’s death became public, according to independent human rights organisation, OVD-Info.
In Moscow, social media footage showed a large group of people chanting “shame” as police dragged a screaming woman from the crowd.
Footage and pictures from St Petersburg also showed officers ripping away placards from protesters and dragging others away from makeshift memorials to Mr Navalny.
Search for funeral venue
Mr Navalny’s team said several venues across Moscow had refused to hold his farewell ceremony, with some refusing to mention the opposition leader’s name and others saying they were “forbidden” from working with his supporters.
His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh also said on social media yesterday that they were unable to find a hearse for the funeral.
“Unknown people are calling up people and threatening them not to take Alexei’s body anywhere,” she said.
Navalny’s chief of staff says funeral is ‘not a rally’
An ally of Alexei Navalny says his farewell ceremony today is “not a rally” as he urges supporters to see him “off on his last journey”.
Leonid Volkiv, chief of staff to the late Russian opposition leader, said in a series of posts to X that he was unsure of what “obstacles” police and the authorities would put in place.
“But in the end, it doesn’t matter. You will just have to navigate the situation on the spot and organise yourself,” he said.
“The funeral of Alexei Navalny is not a rally; those wishing to say goodbye should have no problems,” he said.
Kremlin critic’s mother ‘may be only person allowed in church for ceremony’
Alexei Navalny’s mother could be the only person allowed inside the church for his farewell ceremony, a democracy campaigner has said.
Dmitrii Moskovskii, PR coordinator for the Russian Democratic Society, which organised protests over Mr Navalny’s death, said police will likely try and keep most people outside.
“Inside, I think it’s going to be his mother and that’s probably all,” he said.
Mr Moskovskii said Mr Navalny’s wife Yulia is not expected to attend as she is out of the country, and it is “too dangerous” as she tries to continue her husband’s work.
Asked if Mr Navalny’s supporters would be taking a risk by attending the farewell ceremony, Mr Moskovskii said there was “always a risk”.
“We never know where it’s going to end up. It may be mass arrests [or] just few people might be arrested.”
Talking about the wider aims of his organisation, Mr Moskovskii says its main mission is for Western nations to “understand that Russian people are not all the same people who are pro- war”.
“Pro-Putin is a minority. In fact, [people who oppose Vladimir Putin] are in the majority,” he said.
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