Late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was laid to rest on Friday in a Moscow cemetery, where thousands of mourners had gathered. This came two weeks after his death in an Arctic prison. Navalny, a prominent opponent of President Vladimir Putin and an anti-corruption campaigner, was buried after a brief candle-lit funeral service in a nearby church. The casket, following Russian Orthodox tradition, was initially left open but was later closed after the religious service in the presence of Navalny’s parents.
At the cemetery, Navalny’s coffin was lowered into the grave while the soundtrack of his favorite movie, “Terminator 2,” played. Western leaders have condemned Navalny’s death, and his supporters have accused Putin of murder and attempting to prevent a dignified public burial. The Kremlin, denying any involvement, dismissed these accusations as “hysterical” and warned against unauthorized protests during the funeral.
During the burial, mourners expressed their support and shouted phrases like “We won’t forget you!” and “Forgive us!” Thousands of people then paid their respects by passing by the grave. Nearby, a few hundred individuals were heard shouting anti-war slogans. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who has vowed to continue his activism, paid tribute to him on social media and expressed her determination to make him proud.
Navalny’s death has led to numerous detentions of mourners at memorials, with concerns of further arrests at the funeral due to a heavy police presence. The French, German, and US ambassadors were seen among the mourners outside the church, along with some of Russia’s few remaining independent politicians. Navalnaya holds Putin responsible for her husband’s death, a sentiment shared by many Western leaders and opposition figures.
Navalny gained prominence through his anti-corruption campaigns, exposing what he claimed was widespread corruption within Putin’s administration. Some mourners credited Navalny for inspiring their own political activism. He was arrested upon his return to Russia in January 2021 after receiving treatment in Germany for a poisoning attack. Navalnaya described the mistreatment he endured while in prison and accused the authorities of abusing his body after his death.
Navalny’s body was held in a morgue for eight days before being released to the family, leading his team to believe that it was an attempt to cover up responsibility for his death. They also accused authorities of trying to prevent a dignified public burial, fearing potential dissent. Navalnaya has pledged to carry on her husband’s work and called for a more determined fight. Many in the crowd near the church echoed this sentiment, believing that although Navalny had passed away, his ideas would live on through those who gathered to pay their respects.
