Navalny's body returned to mother, spokeswoman says

The body of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been returned to his mother, his spokesperson says.

It comes after she had reportedly been told to agree to a "secret" burial, or else he would be buried at the prison colony where he died.

In a post on X, Navalny's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh thanked everybody who had demanded the return of his body.

"The funeral is yet to take place," she wrote.

"We don't know whether the authorities will interfere with it being carried out in the way the family wants and as Alexei deserves."

Earlier on Saturday, Navalny's widow, Yulia, accused Vladimir Putin of holding her late husband's body "hostage" and demanded its release without conditions.

This is a breaking story and is being updated