The funeral in Moscow of the Russian opponent Alexei Navalni, who died on February 16 at the age of 47 in a prison in the Arctic Circle, has become this Friday a massive demonstration of sadness and rejection against the Kremlin despite the strict control of the security forces. The authorities wanted a secret funeral and threatened the dissident's mother, Liudmila Navalnaya, with burying him in the prison yard if she did not accept. She was not given her body until eight days after a still unclarified death – the official certificate refers to a “natural death.” Thousands of people went to the Utolà Mayá Pechali church – Turn My Sorrows Out, in Russian – in the Márino neighborhood, southeast of Moscow, and queued to attend the ceremony, despite fears of that arrests would occur.
The event has been closely monitored by the police, with riot officers patrolling even three subway stops from the scene. Once there, access to the church was fenced with several rows of fences and metal controls, in addition to the deployment of dozens of agents from the Ministry of the Interior and the National Guard, as well as other members of the security services infiltrated among the assistants.
Dozens of people were able to access the interior of the church, including part of the international press. Liudmila Navalnaya, 69, remained seated with a candle in her hands and her gaze on her son's face in the open coffin. Only she and a few relatives were able to approach the coffin. The authorities did not allow anyone else to do it. As soon as the mother said goodbye to her son, several workers took away the celebration amidst cries of indignation from the audience. “This is satanism, it is immoral, in our culture it is an absolute lack of respect towards the deceased,†a woman cried.
Outside the church, Maxim, a 37-year-old man who had come with two other friends to say goodbye to the dissident, lamented during the hours of waiting: “There is no hope, it is impossible to form an opposition within Russia. Navalny is dead and his colleagues are detained,†added this Muscovite, who was caught by surprise by the dissident's sudden death in a remote Arctic prison. “But even so, it was foreseeable,†he considered.
The three friends have been sparing when recalling how they received the news of Navalni's death on February 16. “Terrific,†Maxim said. “Very sad,†said Egor on his part. “Without words,†said Denís, 37 years old, at the end. The three had attended the spontaneous tributes where Russians placed flowers in honor of Navalny at the monuments to the victims of political repression after his death became public.
“We are afraid of being arrested, of course,†said Denis. “Look how many police,†he pointed out before recounting the tension they experienced in the previous tributes. “Nothing happened to me, but a girl who was behind her in line was arrested. And she had not done anything,†recalled the attendee at Navalni’s funeral.
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The dissident's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, warned last Wednesday that the Russian authorities could attack those attending the ceremony. During a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in which she appeared visibly emotional, she warned: “I am not sure if they will let it be peaceful or if the police will arrest those who are going to say goodbye to me. husband⠀. Navalnaya is outside Russia, as are her two children.
A volunteer from Navalny's team, Nadezhda, came to the doors of the church with a huge bouquet of flowers and without any hope for the future. she “I will leave Russia in the next half year. After the elections it will be worse (the presidential elections are held this month). There is no hope at all,†she expressed in a whisper. she “I knew Alexà © i, Yulia, her wife, for many years. Her death was a shock,†Nadezhda said with tears in her eyes. “I wasn't expecting it.â€
The desolation was visible in the activist's words. “Alexéi tried to change things within Russia following the law, in a peaceful way. “I don't want to say it, no… It terrifies me to think about it, but I only see that a change within the country can be possible through weapons.” “These bandits do not give any other option, they do not allow peaceful opposition,†the volunteer maintained.
Navalny's entourage has accused President Vladimir Putin of being behind the death of the dissident, who had survived several attacks, such as a poisoning with the Novichok nerve agent in 2020 that left him at death's door. After recovering in Germany, he decided to return to Russia despite the risk of being imprisoned, which was what happened. Navalny was serving sentences of thirty years after being accused of “supporting extremism.” The organization he headed, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, was declared a “foreign agent.” The dissident circle has also stated that the Kremlin was supposedly negotiating to exchange him for a Russian espionage hitman imprisoned in Germany. The Kremlin has denied the involvement of the State in his death and has said that it is unaware of any agreement to release Navalny.
Yelena, 53 years old, with four roses in her hand – the even number is the traditional number of flowers in Russian funerals – said this Friday in the vicinity of the funeral: “We always had the feeling of that Navalni could be saved. The team from the Anti-Corruption Foundation – the organization led by the opposition – did everything possible and we believed they could exchange him. “The Kremlin has killed him with its own hands,” he has maintained. “I don't know if he has murdered him slowly or directly, but (the Kremlin) is responsible,†he added.
Yelena came from “a day and a half trip” to Moscow from her small town in the Urals region to say goodbye to Navalny. She was accompanied by Victoria, 52 years old. “One day there will be a great revolt and a better, exciting future will come, but now there is only darkness, repression, terror. It is very hard morally,” said Victoria, also from outside Moscow. “Many people have not come out of fear,†Yelena pointed out. “And people didn't know that the funeral was today in this church.†.
Navalny condemned Putin's decision to attack Ukraine as a crazy enterprise built on lies. The church hosting his funeral has made donations to the Russian army and has enthusiastically announced its support for the war, according to Reuters. A paradoxical situation in the face of the vast pacifist majority that came this Friday to say goodbye to Navalni. “We only have the applause left,†sighed a woman when Navalni’s fà © retro received the ovation of his followers, today orphans of a leader within Russia.
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