Mourners gathering in Moscow for Alexei Navalny‘s funeral despite arrest fears reflects the profound impact he had on people’s hearts. His courage in fighting corruption and advocating for democracy earned him deep admiration. Navalny’s legacy will inspire others to pursue justice and accountability.
Defiant mourners assembled in Moscow for the funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Friday, despite concerns of a heavy-handed response or arrest by Russian authorities. Navalny, aged 47, passed away two weeks ago in an Arctic penal colony where he had been unjustly incarcerated on politically motivated charges.
The funeral ceremony occurred in an Orthodox church in southeastern Moscow, followed by the burial at a nearby local cemetery. Prior to the memorial service, a video streamed online on Navalny’s YouTube channel depicted large crowds standing in orderly queues behind barricades set up by the police.
As the hearse carrying Navalny’s body arrived at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrow, some individuals in the crowd applauded and chanted “Navalny! Navalny!” Others chanted, “You were not afraid, and we are not afraid” and “Russia will be free.” As a tribute to Navalny’s favorite movie, music from “Terminator 2” was played at the cemetery.
As of now, there have been no reports of arrests. However, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, expressed concerns about potential arrests ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a speech to European lawmakers, she stated, “I’m uncertain whether it will remain peaceful or if the police will detain those who have come to bid farewell to my husband… You are not dealing with a politician, but with a ruthless mobster.”
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, warned against breaking the law and referred to any “unauthorized (mass) gatherings” as violations. Putin has implemented stringent legislation that suppresses opposition to his rule, resulting in the exile or imprisonment of numerous activists.
Following Navalny’s demise, Russian authorities detained 400 people across 39 cities as they sought to pay their respects at small-scale vigils. A photo published by OVD-Info, an independent human rights group, displayed Navalny’s body in an open casket adorned with red and white flowers during the memorial service. His mother and father were in attendance, but it remains unclear if any other family members were present. The cause of Navalny’s death has not been independently determined. Russian prison authorities claim he died of “sudden death syndrome,” but his family and supporters believe he was murdered. They are also questioning why it took over a week for his body to be released to them. Navalny’s death adds to a growing list of Putin’s adversaries who have died in suspicious manners, including poisonings, falls from windows, and even plane crashes.
“I feel like I’m burying my own son,” expressed a mourner outside the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrow, conveying the profound loss experienced due to Navalny’s passing. “He was our hope, the same age as my children. It’s an immense tragedy. I had complete faith in him, and I had dreams of him becoming president.”
In response to Navalny’s death and Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on over 500 individuals and entities. However, a group of Russian dissidents in London expressed skepticism regarding the significant impact of these punitive measures on Putin.
“We do not believe that there is a single solution that the Russian opposition or western governments can implement to end the war in Ukraine and remove Putin,” stated Vladimir Ashurkov, a founder of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation. “It requires sustained effort. We have always maintained that, despite the appearance of stability, Putin’s regime is actually becoming more fragile. As a professional political organization, our goal is to become the most organized political force in Russia when circumstances start to change.”