Russian authorities hand Navalny's body to mother for burial

The articles report that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's body has been handed over to his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya. Several of Navalny's associates, including Ivan Zhdanov and Kira Yarmysh, have thanked those who called for the return of his body and expressed uncertainty about whether the authorities will allow a public funeral. Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony on February 16 after being hospitalized in Siberia following a reported poisoning with a nerve agent. His death came amid widespread criticism of the Russian government, with some accusing President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity by attempting to prevent Navalny's mother from making funeral arrangements. Human rights activists and journalists have expressed concern about the well-being of other political prisoners in the Russian prison system.