Crowds gathered in Moscow on Friday to witness the funeral of Alexei Navalny, the deceased Russian opposition politician, with allies estimating that over 1,000 people had assembled for the occasion.
In a grey Moscow marked by remnants of snow on the streets, individuals lined up outside the church where the memorial service was scheduled to occur.
The atmosphere was tense, with a heavy police presence, as political tensions heightened ahead of the upcoming presidential elections set to take place from March 15 to 17.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declared on Friday that any unauthorized gatherings in support of Navalny would be considered illegal, as translated by NBC News.
Navalny’s Funeral in Moscow (Credits: The Guardian)
Navalny’s death occurred under unclear circumstances last month while he was serving a sentence in an Arctic prison colony. Reports indicated that the death certificate cited “natural causes.”
While Navalny’s family, supporters, and Western leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of responsibility for his rival’s death, the Kremlin has consistently denied any involvement.
The body of Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most significant critic, was laid to rest with the sounds of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” playing, while outside the cemetery, thousands of his supporters chanted to be allowed in to pay their respects.
Despite the large number of followers and a significant presence of riot police, there were no major protests or clashes during the funeral.
The 47-year-old opposition leader’s sudden death in the Polar Wolf prison colony in northern Russia has been described by his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and other supporters as “murder,” a claim disputed by Russian authorities who attribute it to “natural causes.”
