Alexei Navalny's physique has been transferred to a morgue, based on a Russian news outlet, with guards reportedly "mysteriously" looking out jail cells the night time earlier than his demise.
Many have blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the opposition chief's demise, which was reported on Friday, and calls are rising for an impartial investigation.
His physique has been taken to the Salekhard District Clinical Hospital's morgue, Novaya Gazeta Europe stories, however as of Saturday no autopsy examination had been carried out.
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A paramedic for the Salekhard ambulance service advised the news outlet traditional process didn't look like adopted within the wake of his demise.
"Usually, the bodies of people who die in prison are taken straight to the Bureau of Forensic Medicine… but in this case it was taken to the clinical hospital for some reason," he mentioned.
"They drove him to the morgue, brought him in, and then stationed two policemen in front of the door.
"They may as nicely have put up an indication saying 'one thing mysterious is occurring right here'."
While the demise was first reported on Friday, one inmate advised the publication there was a "mysterious commotion" on Thursday night time.
"It all started when they really sped up our evening search, this usually happens on holidays when the guards are in a hurry to go and celebrate, but [that day] wasn't a holiday," the inmate mentioned.
"Then they locked us up, forbade any movement between barracks, and tightened security.
"We heard vehicles drive on to the jail grounds late at night time however could not see by way of our cell home windows what they have been."
He additionally mentioned guards performed an in-depth search of the prisoners' cells on Friday morning, seizing telephones and different objects.
Novaya Gazeta Europe's supply mentioned he thought authorities appeared wrong-footed by his demise, claiming the warden and the top of operations seemed distraught.
His mom, Lyudmila Navalnaya, visited the jail - the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, located within the Arctic Circle - on Saturday, whereas his spouse shared a picture of the 2 collectively on Instagram.
She was reportedly advised he died of "sudden death syndrome", however she has not been in a position to see the physique.
Meanwhile tributes are nonetheless being laid by the Solovetsky Stone, in Lubyanka Square in Moscow, which is a monument that commemorates victims of political oppression.
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More than 400 folks have been arrested at occasions in reminiscence of Mr Navalny, based on rights group OVD-Info.
Sky News's Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay mentioned guests to the monument are being advised by police to maneuver on and never keep on the memorial for a very long time.
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