The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mother, a top aide to Navalny said Saturday on his social media account. Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, made the announcement on his Telegram account and thanked "everyone" who had called on Russian authorities to return Navalny's body to his mother. Earlier on Saturday, Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's widow, accused President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity by trying to force his mother to agree to a secret funeral after his death in an Arctic penal colony. Photo: Babuskinsky District Court Press Service via Associated Press FULL STORY: https://nbcmontana.com/news/nation-world/body-of-alexei-navalny-has-been-handed-over-to-his-mother-aide-says-russian-opposition-leader-arctic-penal-colony-kremlin-foe-president-vladimir-putin-yulia-navalnaya-widow# Stay up to date with our digital and social media content: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NBCMontana Twitter: https://twitter.com/NBCMontana Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbc_montana/ Latest local news and weather: https://nbcmontana.com/ Latest Weather Forecast: https://nbcmontana.com/weather Download our App: https://nbcmontana.com/station/nbc-montana-news-and-weather-app Share Your Photos and Videos: https://NBCMontana.com/ChimeIn Send us News Tips: [email protected] Call our newsroom: 406-721-5642 NBC Montana is a MT based station and a NBC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. #montana #montanamoment #nbcmontana #mtwx #news