Alex Salmond's widow has claimed senior SNP politicians are "determined to damage" his legacy by accusing him of bullying.
She has called for an end to the "deeply unfair" attacks that were causing "hurt and pain" to the former first minister's family.
At the weekend, Nicola Sturgeon claimed that Mr Salmond had been "really rough on people" and that she had to step in "many times" to stop him.
John Swinney has also said Mr Salmond could be “quite brisk with people” and that “sometimes we all had to say look, that’s not on."
In a rare statement, Moira Salmond has hit out at Nicola Sturgeon and other SNP politicians over their remarks about her late husband.
“My late husband, Alex Salmond, died on October 12, 2024, and his memorial service was only six weeks ago,” the statement said.
“I, and the rest of the family, continue to grieve. Life will never be the same for any of us.
“In recent days, it has therefore caused me and the wider family great distress to read the comments of those who seem determined to damage his reputation even in death. It is difficult for us to understand what motivates those interventions, especially when such comments are made in the knowledge that Alex cannot defend himself as he would certainly have done. Those attacking him must know that the law does not allow us, his family, to protect his reputation from being defamed now that he is gone.
“Attacks by the living on the dead will seem to many as deeply unfair. My wish, and sincere hope, is that these attacks will now stop. I am therefore asking those involved to recognise that all they are doing is causing hurt and pain to his family. From this point on, please let Alex rest in peace.”