Two days after his death in a nearby prison, authorities discovered the bruised body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the morgue of the Arctic Hospital, the Telegraph reported.

Navalny died after suffering a brief illness while walking outdoors, authorities said. However, traces of physical trauma allegedly on his body tell a different story.

An anonymous source told Novaya Gazeta: “According to witnesses, these injuries were caused by a seizure.'' according to to the Telegraph. “The person convulses, tries to hold him down, and bruises appear. There was also bruising on his chest. So they still tried to resuscitate him, but he probably died of cardiac arrest.”

These revelations have led to increased scrutiny over the treatment of Navalny's final days, especially given the notorious nature of the prison where he was held, the Telegraph reported. Russian criminal law authorities announced that Navalny, who was serving his sentence at IK-3, a prison in the Russian Arctic known for its harsh conditions, had died.

Navalny's mother was reportedly unable to find his body at the Salekhard morgue on Saturday, the newspaper said, and officials from the Anti-Corruption Foundation alleged a cover-up by Russian authorities. (Related: Russia threatens Facebook with huge fines if it doesn't remove banned content)

The body of Alexei Navalny has been found, showing signs of bruises caused by being held down while he was convulsing. https://t.co/Zxby20vVFd pic.twitter.com/gc5asJVgDy

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) February 18, 2024

According to the report, an autopsy has not yet been performed on the deceased at the time of writing. The paper also noted that two unexpected flights from Moscow arrived in Salekhard on Saturday, presumably carrying forensic pathology experts.

“The first jet landed at around 6 o'clock in the evening. It was met by a car from the Investigative Committee. And the second one arrived an hour and a half later,” according to the Telegraph, and Novaya Gazeta reported on an anonymous tip. I have said this as a person's story.

According to the report, Russia's domestic response is also chaotic, and the situation is unprecedented, with large-scale and spontaneous protests erupting across the country. The newspaper said it was the largest series of protests against the government across the country since September 2022, following President Vladimir Putin's order to mobilize troops to fight the conflict in Ukraine. More than 400 people were reportedly detained just for paying homage to Navalny.

The paper said police forces' responses varied, with some blocking access to the monument and others removing it. The newspaper said there were also reports of plainclothes security guards tracking people who laid flowers at the monument.