Navalny widow asks Euro pols: Probe Putin money in West

‘FIGHT THE CRIMINAL GANG’ Yulia Navalnaya, widowof Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died Feb. 16 in a Russian prison, addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Feb. 28. —PHOTO BY AFP

STRASBOURG, France—Yulia Navalnaya, wife of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, on Wednesday urged European politicians and officials to investigate financial flows in the West linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies.

Navalnaya was speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, 12 days after her husband died suddenly in a Russian penal colony at the age of 47.

Navalnaya told the European lawmakers in Strasbourg: “Putin killed my husband.”

‘Bloody monster’

“On his orders, Alexei was tortured for three years. He was starved in a tiny stone cell, cut off from the outside world and denied visits, phone calls and then even letters,” she said. “And then they killed him. Even after that they abused his body and abused his mother.”

In the 12 days since her husband’s death, Navalnaya has staked a claim to take on the leadership of Russia’s fragmented opposition, saying she will continue his work.

Speaking in English, her voice sometimes faltering, she described Putin as a “bloody monster” and told lawmakers it was not possible to negotiate with him.

Standing ovation

“You cannot hurt Putin with another resolution or another set of sanctions that is no different from the previous ones,” she said, calling for more effective action against the money flows of the ruling elite.

“Putin is the leader of an organized criminal gang. This includes poisoners and assassins but they’re just puppets. The most important thing is the people close to Putin—his friends, associates and keepers of mafia money,” she said.

“You and all of us must fight the criminal gang. And the political innovation here is to apply the methods of fighting organized crime, not political competition. Not statements of concern but the search for mafia associates in your countries, for discreet lawyers and financiers who are helping Putin and his friends to hide money.”

Wearing a black dress with white collar and trim, she was greeted with a standing ovation in the European Parliament.

Navalnaya said she was not sure whether the funeral service would be peaceful or whether the police would make arrests.

READ: Biden met with Navalny’s wife, daughter on Thursday – White House

Navalny, 47, died at an Arctic penal colony on Feb. 16. His allies have accused Putin of having him murdered because the Russian leader could allegedly not tolerate the thought of Navalny being freed in a potential prisoner swap.

They have not published proof to back up that accusation, but have promised to set out how he was murdered and by whom.

The Kremlin has denied state involvement in his death and has said it is unaware of any agreement to free Navalny prior to his death.

Navalny’s death certificate, according to supporters, said he died of natural causes.

Navalny’s funeral service and burial will take place in Moscow on Friday, his spokesperson said, but his allies accused the Kremlin of thwarting their attempts to organize a bigger event a day earlier.