Thousands of people attended the funeral of Alexei Navalny, a major critic of Vladimir Putin, who died on February 16 in turbulent conditions in a Moscow prison on Friday, despite the risk of arrest.
During the day, police carried out “at least 128 arrests in 19 cities,” including the Russian capital, during marches in honor of the former anti-corruption activist, according to the specialized NGO OVD-Info.
Supporters of Alexei Navalny, who were present in large numbers with flowers, some in tears, chanted, “No to war!” “, “We will not forget you!” Or even “We will not forgive!” »
After a short ceremony in the church where his remains were displayed in an open coffin according to Orthodox rites, in the presence of his parents but in the absence of his wife Yulia, the opponent was buried in the Borisovo cemetery. Journalists.
At the time of burial, the film's soundtrack sounded Terminator 2which, according to Alexei Navalny, was “the best film ever,” explained his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh.
Then many people came forward in front of his grave.
Earlier, his body was displayed in the church in front of the public for the first time, covered with dozens of red and white flowers, while attendees carried candles. Those who managed to enter the small building could see his pale face with distorted features.
Outside, while riot police were deploying barriers in the area, thousands of people gathered and formed a very long line. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron praised their “courage.”
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, warned of possible penalties if participating in any “unlicensed” demonstration on the occasion of this funeral.
“It hurts”
In a farewell message posted on social networks, Yulia Navalnaya thanked her husband from abroad for “these 26 years of absolute happiness.”
She added: “I don't know how I will live without you, but I will do my best so that you are happy and proud of me.”
“Dad, you have always been and will forever be my role model,” his daughter Dasha wrote on Instagram, recalling the “kindness,” “optimism” and “sense of humor” of her father, “my hero.”
For his part, the competitor's brother, Oleg Navalny, published pictures showing the two men together, accompanied by a comment: “Sleep in peace, brother, and don't worry about anything.”
Alexei Navalny died at the age of 47 in a penal colony in the Arctic, and his aides, Yulia Navalnaya, as well as the West, have accused Vladimir Putin of responsibility for his death, which the Kremlin denies.
After delaying the delivery of his remains to his loved ones, the Russian authorities finally did so last weekend.
The US ambassador and her French and German counterparts went to the funeral site, as did three opposition figures who are still at large: Evgeny Rozman, Boris Nadezhdin, and Ekaterina Dontsova.
Anna Stepanova said: “It is painful. People like him should not die. They are honorable, principled people who are ready to sacrifice themselves.”
According to Maxim, a 43-year-old computer scientist who requested anonymity, Alexei Navalny “demonstrated freedom.”
For his part, Denis, a 26-year-old volunteer at a charity, confirmed that thanks to him he had become “interested in politics” in Russia, where youth dissatisfaction with these issues is increasing dramatically, against the backdrop of increasing repression of any opposition.
Greetings in Europe
Alexei Navalny's team had invited Moscow residents to bid farewell to him at the site and his supporters in other cities to go and pay their respects in front of the memorials.
Public actions embarrassing to those in power, two weeks before the presidential elections (March 15-17) that could prolong Vladimir Putin's rule.
Marches to honor the memory of the opponent were also held abroad. In London, about 300 people chanted “Navalny! Navalny!” » In front of the Russian Embassy.
In Berlin and Belgrade, there were a few hundred, also near the Russian diplomatic representation. In Paris, a few dozen gathered silently in the rain at the Trocadero, not far from the Eiffel Tower.
Before his poisoning in 2020, which he narrowly survived and which he blamed on Vladimir Putin, and then his arrest and 19-year prison sentence for “extremism,” Alexei Navalny had managed to mobilize on a large scale, especially in Moscow.
His movement, which relied on investigations denouncing corruption by Russian elites, has been systematically dismantled in recent years, and many of its collaborators have found themselves behind bars or in exile.
However, Yulia Navalnaya committed to continuing her husband's fight, and Leonid Volkov, an ally of the opponent, promised that his team “will not give up” because “good always triumphs over evil.”
