Alexei Navalny funeral: Mourners chant 'Putin is a killer' in defiant message
Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's most prominent political opponent, died in a penal colony in the Russian Arctic Circle on February 16.
Hundreds of people gathered in Maryino, on the outskirts of Moscow, to attend the funeral of Alexei Navalny - despite fears police officers may disrupt the event and arrest mourners.
Upon the arrival of his coffin at the church, carried in a black van, people clapped their hands and chanted, despite the large number of police officers in attendance: "You were not afraid, and we are not afraid!" As he was taken away for the burial, some defiant Russians were heard lashing out at the Russian President, saying: "Putin is a killer!"
Mr Navalny's team announced earlier this week that the service would be held on March 1 at 11am GMT (2pm local time) at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows. The burial of Mr Navalny took place at around 1pm GMT (4pm local time) at the nearby Borisovskoye Cemetery.
The funeral was streamed online on Mr Navalny's YouTube channel and the politician's aides shared a list of places abroad where people could join memorial services, to allow mourners from around the world to pay their tribute to Vladimir Putin's most famous critic.
The hours before the final goodbye to Mr Navalny were marred by fears and uncertainty, with his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh saying they were unable to find a hearse to take the body of the politician to the church. She claimed: "Unknown people are calling mortuaries and threatening them if they accept to take Alexei's body."
Moreover, Mr Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya said to feared Russian authorities would not allow the funeral to be carried out without disruption. Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, she said: "I’m not sure yet whether it will be peaceful or whether police will arrest those who have come to say goodbye to my husband."
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Yulia Navalnya issues message
Yulia Navalnya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, shared a written message on X minutes after the burial of her husband was completed.
She wrote: "Lyosha, thank you for 26 years of absolute happiness. Yes, even over the last three years of happiness. For love, for always supporting me, for making me laugh even from prison, for the fact that you always thought about me.
"I don’t know how to live without you, but I will try to make you up there happy for me and proud of me. I don't know if I can handle it or not, but I will try.
"We will definitely meet one day. I have so many untold stories for you, and I have so many songs saved for you on my phone, stupid and funny, in general, to be honest, terrible songs, but they are about us, and I really wanted to let you listen to them. And I really wanted to watch you listen to them, laugh, and then hug me.
"Love you forever. Rest in peace."
The written message was accompanied by a video showing several clips of the couple filmed throughout the years.
Navalny casket lowered into the ground
Following the arrival of Alexei Navalny's body at the cemetery, his loved ones paid their last tribute to the Russian politician.
The casket was then closed and lowered into the ground.
WATCH: Russians issue defiant message to Putin
Some brave Russians were heard chanting messages against Putin following the end of the funeral service.
As the coffin was being taken to the cemetery for burial, some chanted: "Putin is a killer!"
People who came to pay farewell to Alexei Navalny are chanting \u201cPutin is a killer\u201d#\u043c\u0430\u0440\u044c\u0438\u043d\u043e #navalny #putin #russia pic.twitter.com/ptutv0d8h5
\u2014 SOTA English (@sotavisioneng) March 1, 2024
Two high-profile diplomats pictured among the mourners
Two high-profile diplomats were pictured among the mourners gathered outside the church.
US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy and France's Ambassador to Russia Pierre Levy were both spotted carrying flowers during the funeral service.
Alexei Navalny's coffin reaches the cemetery
The coffin of Alexei Navalny has been taken to Borisovskoye Cemetery, where the burial is scheduled to happen at around 1pm GMT.
Some mourners chanted 'executioners' as Navalny's coffin left the church
As Alexei Navalny's coffin was leaving the church to head to the cemetery, some mourners were heard chanting, "Executioners" and, "Russia will be free!"
Others were heard screaming, "no war". The war in Ukraine continues to be addressed as a "special military operation" by the Kremlin, and people referring to it as a "war" risk being detained and charged.
The funeral service has concluded
The funeral service at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows has ended.
Alexei Navalny's coffin, his family and other mourners are now moving towards the cemetery, where he will be buried.
The vehicle carrying the coffin was showered with carnations launched by some of the hundreds of people gathered outside the church to pay tribute to the Russian politician.
Alexei Navalny's parents seen outside of the church
Alexei Navalny's grieving parents, Anatoliy and Liudmila, have been spotted walking to the church to attend their son's funeral service.
They have not made any public comment in the hours prior to the funeral.
Coffin pictured being taken inside the church
The coffin arrived at the church shortly after 11am.
Russian police arrest mourners
Russian law enforcement detained a handful of people in the hours ahead of the funeral, Politico wrote.
Four people were reportedly detained by Russian law enforcement hours before the funeral, materialising the fears expressed on Wednesday by Yulia Navalnya.
Rights group OVD-Info claimed these four people were setting out from the southern city of Voronezh to attend Alexei Navalny’s burial service and funeral when they were detained.
One of them reportedly is a local campaign coordinator for anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin.
The body of Alexei Navalny has arrived at the church
The body of Alexei Navalny was brought to the church in a black van.
The arrival of the vehicle was greeted with a sombre applause, while officers kept a close look on the large crowd.
A hearse with the body of Alexei Navalny arrived at the temple. People greet politician with applause
\u2014 SOTA English (@sotavisioneng) March 1, 2024
\ud83d\udcf7: SOTAvision#navalny #\u043c\u0430\u0440\u044c\u0438\u043d\u043e pic.twitter.com/fZteGYgGWU
Police try to regulate the movement of mourners
Police officers near the church and cemetery have been filmed using megaphones to try and regulate the traffic of the hundreds of mourners gathering to pay tribute to Alexei Navalny.
The police began using megaphones to regulate the movement of people who came to say goodbye to Alexei Navalny in Moscow
\u2014 SOTA English (@sotavisioneng) March 1, 2024
\ud83d\udcf7: SOTAvision#russia #moscow #navalny pic.twitter.com/IpFmhB1Jy2
Security officers 'filming everyone attending the funeral'
Russian Telegram channel SHOT eerily claimed several dozen security officers armed with cameras are filming "everyone attending the funeral".
A large police presence is also reported outside the Borisov cemetery, with SHOT writing: "Now the final preparations are being completed, the territory is cordoned off, the entrance is blocked by a KAMAZ truck. There are police everywhere and many strong people dressed in civilian clothes who are monitoring the situation."
Large police presence in the area
Both the areas near the church and the cemetery where Alexei Navalny will be laid to rest are seeing a large police presence.
\u26a1\ufe0f The situation at Borisov cemetery, where Alexei Navalny's funeral is scheduled to take place pic.twitter.com/BufnbGdP6g
\u2014 NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 1, 2024
Pictrures of the crowd lined up to pay their respect to Navalny
Despite fears Moscow police could arrest them, hundreds of people are already queuing outside of the church where the funeral of Alexei Navalny is set to take place.
Alexei Navalny's funeral livestream begins
The official YouTube channel of Alexei Navalny is live-streaming the funeral of the political leader.
The transmission began a few minutes after 9am GMT, two hours before the funeral service is set to begin.
Images transmitted suggest there is a large presence near the church where the funeral will be celebrated, despite fears of a crackdown by authorities.
Russian senators refuse to speak about Navalny's death
After attending Vladimir Putin's State of the Nation address on Thursday, BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg asked Russian senator Vladimir Chizhov whether he was concerned about the state of his nation and the reputation of Russia following the death of Alexei Navalny.
Despite Mr Navalny being Russia's most prominent opposition politician, Mr Chizhov seemingly suggested he had never heard of him.
He simply replied: "Who's that?"
Another senator, Alexei Pushkov, said to be ready to comment only on Vladimir Putin's State of the Nation address rather than on any other issue.
At Vladimir Putin\u2019s state of the nation, I asked one Russian senator: \u201cAre you not concerned about the state of the nation or its reputation after the death of Alexei Navalny?\u201d His reply: \u201cWho\u2019s that?\u201d Our report from Moscow. Producer @LizaShuvalova Camera @AntonChicherov pic.twitter.com/UvgTwYeF1Y
\u2014 Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) February 29, 2024
Metal fencing placed around the church
Workers were photographed on Thursday placing metal barriers outside of the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows on the outskirts of Moscow, where the funeral of Alexei Navalny is to take place.
Good morning
Good morning from London. I’m Alice Scarsi, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the funeral of Alexei Navalny.