THE Kremlin's spies visited Alexei Navalny's prison just days before he died, a source has claimed.
Russia announced the death of Putin's number one enemy on Friday, seeing critics across the globe label it "murder".
The Kremlin's authorities initially said Navalny "collapsed and died" after a blot clot or thrombosis, but yesterday claimed he died of "sudden death syndrome".
However, more details leading up to his death have been revealed in a timeline by a human rights group.
The organisation claimed several Russian spies from the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) visited the 'Polar Wolf' prison - where Navalny was being held - on Wednesday.
They claimed that while there the spies disconnected and dismantled some of the security cameras and listening devices inside the bleak jail.
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The group also said the speed Russian authorities announced Navalny's death was suspicious.
The dad-of-two was pronounced dead at 2.17pm but just two minutes later the prison put out a press release.
Then a mere four minutes after that a state-controlled channel on the Telegram messaging site claimed Navalny's cause of death was a blood clot, or thrombosis.
Seven minutes later Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, fronted the media about Navalny's death.
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reported the human rights organisation said: “This rapid timing can only mean one thing.
“Everything was pre-planned and co-ordinated, right down to the FSIN press release. Minute by minute. Second by second.”
However, another source claimed this could be simply explained away - perhaps Navalny died earlier than is being reported.
He claimed prisoners had already been told of the death by 10am local time - as opposed to the 2.17pm reports.
The insider said: “I think Navalny died much earlier than the time that was announced.”
It was last night claimed Russian officials are doing "everything they can to avoid handing over his body".
Navalny's family - and critics - believe this is a murderous cover-up, as his mother is still yet to say her final goodbyes.
His family was told yesterday Navalny's body was still not in the morgue in Salekhard - in the Arctic Circle - where officials told the dad's loved ones it had been taken to.
Critics have now accused crooked Russian authorities of hiding the corpse to “cover their tracks” over the 47-year-old's demise.
Last night a source close to the Kremlin's enemy said: “They are doing everything they can to avoid handing over the body.”
Timeline around Navalny's death:
A timeline published by , a human rights group, revealed:
February 14: Several officers from the FSB, the Russian intelligence service, are said to have paid a visit to “Polar Wolf” prison — and proceeded to disconnect and dismantle some of the security cameras and listening devices there.
February 16, 2.17pm local time: Navalny, 47, was officially reported to have died.
February 16, 2.19pm: The prison service put out what appeared to be a prepared press release.
It read: “On February 16, 2024, in correctional colony No. 3, convict Navalny A.A. felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness."
February 16, 2.23pm: A state-controlled channel on the Telegram messaging site claimed the cause of death was a blood clot, or thrombosis.
February 16, 2.30pm: Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, fronted the media about Navalny's death.
February 16: US President Joe Biden blasted: "Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. Even in prison he was a powerful voice for the truth."
February 16: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: "Obviously, Putin killed him."
February 17: Navalny's mum Lyudmila Navalnaya, 69, said to be told she couldn't see her son until an “examination” was completed.
February 17: Russian authorities claim the dad died of "sudden death syndrome"
Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said earlier: “Alexei’s lawyer and his mother arrived at the Salekhard morgue.
"It was closed despite the prison saying that it was open and that Navalny’s body was there.
"The lawyer was told he was the seventh caller today... and Alexei’s body is not in the morgue.”
She said that another lawyer, who went to Salekhard’s Investigative Committee, was told: “The cause of Alexei’s death has not yet been established, a new histological examination has to be carried out.”
Ms Yarmysh added: “The results will supposedly be available next week. It’s obvious the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei’s body, hiding it even from his mother.”
And she went on: “We know for sure that it wasn’t just a death — it was a murder.”
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Navalny, Putin's leading domestic critic in Russia, had bravely challenged the tyrant's rule and his horrific war in Ukraine.
The dad's supporters always feared that he would be assassinated while behind bars, and his family say he was “cheerful and healthy” in the days leading up to his death.