- The funeral was one of the largest displays of dissent in Russia in recent years
The mother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny brought flowers to her son’s grave after thousands of mourners flocked to the Putin critic’s funeral.
The funeral, which took in place in Moscow on Friday, was one of the largest displays of dissent in Russia in recent years and dozens of supporters were detained by police.
Under a heavy police presence, Mr Navalny’s mother Lyudmilla Navalnaya was accompanied by his mother-in-law, Alla Abrosimova, who joined other mourners to say a final goodbye to Mr Navalny after his still-unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony on February 16.
The situation was calm despite the heavy police presence at the cemetery, Russian independent TV channel Dozhd (Rain) reported.
Taking to the Telegram messaging app, the outlet quoted one of the supporters at the scene who said: ‘The police let those wishing to bid farewell to the politician pass through and do not rush anyone.’
Alexei Navalny’s mother Lyudmila Navalnaya (left) was accompanied by his mother-in-law Alla Abrosimova (right) who joined other mourners to say a final goodbye to Mr Navalny
Ms Navalnaya and Ms Abrosimova laying flowers at Navalny’s grave. The funeral, which took in place in Moscow on Friday, was one of the largest displays of dissent in Russia in recent years and dozens of supporters were detained by police
Thousands of mourners at Navalny’s funeral. Police did not act against those attending the funeral, but at least 106 people were detained at events across Russia in Navalny’s memory, according to OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests
Dozhd also reported that ‘spontaneous memorials’ to Navalny had been destroyed in several Russian cities with flowers removed in cities including St Petersburg.
The crowds who thronged to honour Navalny outside a church and cemetery in a snowy south-eastern suburb of the capital chanted slogans for him and against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine.
Mourners following the hearse in Moscow threw red carnations as it passed and could be heard shouting ‘Putin is a murderer’ and ‘Russia will be free’.
Police did not act against those attending the funeral, but at least 106 people were detained at events across Russia in Navalny’s memory, according to OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests.
It said most were stopped while trying to lay flowers at monuments dedicated to victims of Soviet repression.
Mr Navalny was buried after a short Russian Orthodox ceremony, with vast crowds waiting outside the church and then streaming to the fresh grave with flowers.
Alexei Navalny’s grave in Moscow. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, was not seen at the funeral. She has vowed to continue his work, and thanked him for ’26 years of absolute happiness’
The funeral of the opposition leader will take place two weeks after he died in an Arctic prison on February 16, amid pressures denounced by his team who accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured on Friday) of murdering his top critic behind bars
Foreign diplomats, including French Ambassador to Russia Pierre Levy and US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, wait near the Soothe My Sorrows church before a funeral service and a farewell ceremony for Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny
Russian authorities have said Navalny (pictured in 2019) died of ‘natural causes’ but his team and some Western leaders have accused Putin of being directly responsible
The funeral followed a battle with authorities over the release of his body.
His team said several Moscow churches refused to hold the funeral for the man who crusaded against official corruption and organised massive protests.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, was not seen at the funeral. She has vowed to continue his work, and thanked him for ’26 years of absolute happiness’.
Speaking at the European Union Parliament in Strasbourg, Mrs Navalnaya warned with regards to Putin, who she accused of having her husband killed: ‘You’re not dealing with a politician but a bloody monster.’
Many Western leaders blamed the death on the Mr Putin, an accusation the Kremlin has rejected.
