Russia: Hundreds gather outside church for Navalny’s funeral

Despite a heavy police presence, thousands of people have gathered to bid farewell to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at his funeral in Moscow. 

His death two weeks ago in an Arctic penal colony remains unexplained.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the church grounds, where they were hemmed in by a large contingent of police.

According to a spokesperson, Navalny's family had significant difficulty finding a church and cemetery for the burial. Both are located far from the city center. Authorities even threatened to bury Navalny anonymously.

Kremlin refuses investigation

The prison administration in Siberia had denied Navalny's mother, Ludmilla Navalnaya, access to his body for days after his death two weeks ago; the handover of the body to the relatives was delayed until Friday afternoon. Navalny was supposed to be buried in the Borissowskoje Cemetery.

The activist was considered President Vladimir Putin's main opposition, and his team, together with foreign governments, have alleged murder. They hold Russia's leadership responsible for Navalny's death in the penal colony.

The activist Navalny, who had good contacts within Western government circles, had been in custody since 2021, including many days in solitary confinement. Several courts in Russia had imposed lengthy prison sentences on him in dubious trials, including for extremism. He had been condemned to spend several decades in prison.

EU Parliament: “Murder”

The European Parliament described Navalny’s death as "murder" on Thursday.

In a resolution adopted with 506 votes in favor and nine against, they emphasized that Russia's government and Vladimir Putin personally bear criminal and political responsibility for the activist’s death, saying that they must be held accountable.