Russia claims Alexei Navalny ‘died of sudden death syndrome’ after Putin critic’s body ‘goes missing’

RUSSIA has claimed Alexei Navalny died of sudden death syndrome after the body was missing from the morgue earlier today.

The mother and lawyer of Putin’s biggest critic were told that he had died of the bizarre illness as they waited to say goodbye to his body.

Navalny’s family and friends have been left devastated and accused the Russian authorities of “lying” after they were promised his body would be at the morgue for them to say goodbye.

Navalny’s corpse is reportedly not in the morgue in Salekhard – on the Arctic Circle – where his family was told by officials it had been taken to.

Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said: “The lawyer and Alexei’s mother arrived at the Salekhard morgue.

“It is closed, despite the colony’s assurances that it is working and Navalny’s body is there.

“The lawyer called the phone number indicated on the door. He was told that he was the seventh person to call today.

“They don’t have Alexei’s body in the morgue. Just an hour ago, the lawyers were told that the check was completed and no crime had been established. 

“They literally lie every time, drive in circles and cover their tracks.”

His death was confirmed at 14:17 local time on February 16, according to a document given to Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya.

Yarmysh demanded his body was immediately handed over to his family but it has somehow gone missing.