Obstruction in Transporting Navalny's Body to Moscow Funeral by Hearse Drivers, Alleges Navalny's Team
Efforts to arrange transportation for Alexey Navalny's body to his funeral in Moscow faced interference from unidentified individuals, as reported by the team of the prominent Russian opposition leader on Thursday.
Efforts to arrange for a hearse to transport Alexey Navalny's body to his funeral have been blocked by unidentified individuals, according to statements made by the Russian opposition leader's team on Thursday. Kira Yarmysh, the spokesperson, alleged that drivers had received threatening calls from unknown sources instructing them not to transport Alexey's body to any location.
Yarmysh was informed that no hearse was willing to transport the body to the designated location.
Navalny's team faced challenges in securing a venue for his funeral, scheduled for 2 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET) on Friday at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow's Maryino district, where he resided. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Borisov Cemetery.
The Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow, where Navalny's funeral will be held.
The Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow, where Navalny's funeral will be held.
Yarmysh said Tuesday that several venues were either busy or declined the booking upon learning of Navalny's involvement. Some venues even stated that they were prohibited from collaborating with Navalny's team.
Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, revealed on Wednesday that the team's initial plans for a public farewell and funeral for the late Russian opposition leader on Thursday had to be changed due to a lack of available cemetery workers to dig a grave.
Navalnaya, the wife of the deceased, holds President Putin responsible for her husband's death.
Navalny passed away on February 16 at the penal colony in Siberia where he was serving a 19-year sentence for charges including creating an extremist community and financing extremist activists. He was also serving additional sentences totaling 11-and-a-half years for fraud and other offenses he claims he did not commit.
According to the Russian prison service, Navalny reported feeling unwell after a walk at his Siberian penal colony and subsequently lost consciousness almost immediately.
Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, bravely challenged Putin's nearly 25-year reign despite facing personal danger. Tragically, his passing occurred just weeks before the upcoming presidential elections on March 15, widely perceived as a mere formality to secure Putin's fifth term in office.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a prison camp, addresses the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France February 28, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a prison camp, speaks at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on February 28, 2024. The event was covered by Johanna Geron from Reuters.
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Navalny's passing sparked sorrow and outrage globally and within Russia, where even minor acts of political opposition come with significant dangers.
In 2021, Navalny came back to Russia from Germany, where he had received medical care following a poisoning incident involving Novichok, a nerve agent from the Soviet era. Upon his return, Navalny was promptly detained - facing charges he deemed as politically driven - and remained imprisoned until his death.
His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for her husband’s death.
Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny takes part in a march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in Moscow, Russia, on February 24, 2019.
Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny takes part in a march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in Moscow, Russia, on February 24, 2019.
Pavel Golovkin/AP
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During a speech at the European Parliament on Wednesday, she accused Putin of being responsible for her husband's death. She claimed that Alexey was tortured for three years on Putin's orders, referring to the time Navalny spent in prison.
Describing the horrific conditions, she stated that her husband was starved in a tiny stone cell, isolated from the world, and deprived of visits, phone calls, and even letters. She also mentioned that his body was abused even after his death, with Navalny's team alleging that the body was held to pressure the family into agreeing to a private funeral.
The Kremlin has rejected any allegations of involvement in Navalny’s death.
Navalnaya also said she was concerned that police will crack down on mourners at the funeral on Friday.
According to human rights monitoring group OVD-Info, over 400 individuals were apprehended at impromptu memorials for Navalny in 32 Russian cities.
This report includes contributions from CNN's Anna Chernova.
