Kremlin rejects call for independent postmortem on opposition leader Alexei Navalny

(LONDON) — Kremlin officials rejected on Tuesday a call for an independent postmortem examination on the remains of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The Council of the European Union had on Monday called for the independent review, saying Russia “must allow an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances of his sudden death.”

“Mr Navalny’s unexpected and shocking death is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia,” the council said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the body’s request on Tuesday, saying “Moscow does not accept such demands” from the European Union.

Members of Navalny’s inner circle said they were continuing on Tuesday to seek access to the opposition leader’s remains.