Supporters unite for Navalny's memorial in Moscow amidst security concerns
Supporters have assembled at a Moscow church to honor the memory of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, defying heightened security measures and the risk of potential arrests as observed by a present CNN team.
Mourners have gathered at a Moscow church for the funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, as reported by a CNN team on the ground. Despite a heavy police presence and the threat of detention, crowds have come to pay their respects.
Navalny, who was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s main rival, passed away at the age of 47 in an Arctic prison on February 16. His death has led to global condemnation and his aides have accused authorities of foul play. The Kremlin, however, has denied any involvement in his passing.
Navalny's team faced challenges when trying to retrieve his body from Russian authorities and finding a venue for his funeral. The funeral started at 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 the Kremlin critic resided. After the service, he will be laid to rest at Borisov Cemetery.
To ensure order, barriers were set up along the route to the cemetery before the funeral. Dozens of police vans lined the area, with police officers positioned on rooftops to oversee the increasing number of mourners, as seen in videos from the scene.
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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Navalny's aide revealed that he was close to being released in a prisoner swap shortly before his death.
Before the funeral, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned Russians not to hold unauthorized memorials for Navalny, stating that it would be against the law.
Despite the dangers, mourners warmly welcomed Navalny's coffin with claps and chants at the church. In another video, people were heard shouting: "You were brave, and we are not afraid."
Maria Pevchikh, a trusted assistant to Navalny, expressed that the chants for Navalny will persist. She mentioned, "The loud chants of 'Navalny! Navalny!' will echo in the coming months and even years ahead."
Around 20 minutes before Navalny’s funeral was scheduled to start, the CNN team on the ground had trouble with their live signal. Similarly, the feed set up by Navalny’s team was not showing live coverage of the event.
People in line waiting for the funeral told CNN that they were there to honor their "hero." Marina shared that she had come all the way from St. Petersburg because she deeply admired Navalny.
"He was a real hero. I want to bid him goodbye," she mentioned, expressing her lack of astonishment at the Kremlin's denial of any role in Navalny's passing. "It just shows everyone that they do as they please," she added. "They have the power to suppress you."
Another woman, Tatiana, 82, shared that she had been to many of Navalny's gatherings and had supported him for a long time.
“I always supported their [Navalny’s] policy, their ideas. I share these ideas,” Tatiana said.
Neither woman said they were deterred by the potential risk of coming to the funeral.
Mourners chanted "Navalny! Navalny!" as the Kremlin critic's coffin is carried to the Moscow church hosting his funeral.
Mourners chanted "Navalny! Navalny!" as the Kremlin critic's coffin is carried to the Moscow church hosting his funeral.
AP
But Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, had said ahead of the funeral that she is concerned police will crack down mourners.
She shared with the European Parliament that she is uncertain if the farewell to her husband will be peaceful or if the attendees will face arrest by the police.
The passing of Navalny sparked sorrow and outrage globally and within Russia, where even the slightest acts of political opposition come with great dangers. Over 400 individuals were taken into custody at impromptu memorials for Navalny in 32 cities in Russia, as reported by the human rights monitoring group OVD-Info.
Navalny came back to Russia in 2021 after getting better in Germany from being poisoned with Novichok, as a Bellingcat-CNN investigation discovered it was done by Russian intelligence.
As soon as he got there, he was taken into custody and remained in prison for the rest of his days, facing charges he believed were driven by political reasons.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Editor's P/S:
The funeral of Alexey Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader, is a somber reminder of the dangers and challenges facing dissent in Russia. Despite heavy police presence and threats of detention, mourners gathered to pay their respects, chanting "Navalny! Navalny!" and defying the Kremlin's attempts to silence his memory.
Navalny's death in prison has sparked global condemnation and accusations of foul play. The Kremlin's denial of involvement only serves to highlight the authoritarian nature of the regime and its disregard for human rights. The mourners who gathered at his funeral are a testament to the courage and resilience of those who dare to challenge the status quo in Russia.
