Navalny’s funeral to be held on Friday in Moscow

The burial of Alexei Navalny, Russia’s prominent opposition figure, will be held at Moscow’s Borisovskoye Cemetery on Friday

Alexei Navalny, prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be buried at Moscow’s Borisovskoye Cemetery on Friday, as confirmed by Navalny’s spokesperson.

The burial service follows a farewell ceremony planned in the Maryino district of Moscow.

Navalny’s sudden death in an Arctic prison earlier this month has sparked widespread criticism and accusations against the Russian president, particularly from Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and several world leaders.

Details surrounding Navalny’s death remain vague, with Russian authorities initially refusing to release his body to his mother, Lyudmila, until eight days after his passing.

Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmish, revealed the challenges faced by the team in organizing the ceremony, citing difficulties in finding a venue as some funeral homes claimed to be fully booked or refused upon learning the event’s purpose.

Originally planned for Feb. 29, the funeral had to be rescheduled due to logistical issues, including a lack of available grave diggers.

Ivan Zhdanov, director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, suggested a possible reason for the delay, implying that it coincided with Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly.

He also urged people to arrive early for the opportunity to bid farewell to Navalny.

Navalny’s death has prompted widespread demonstrations across Russia, with approximately 400 individuals arrested for laying flowers in his memory, according to the human rights group, OVO-Info.

Given the circumstances, Navalny’s funeral on Friday is expected to be closely monitored by a significant police presence, possibly leading to further crackdowns.

Source: Newsroom

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