The date and location of Alexei Navalny’s funeral have been announced by his close associates, ending days of uncertainty and speculation. The prominent Russian opposition figure, who died in prison on February 16th, will be laid to rest in Moscow on Friday, March 1st.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has expressed concerns about potential arrests and has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as the “leader of a criminal organization.” Speaking in Strasbourg, she urged Europeans to stand united against the Kremlin’s authority.
The veil of mystery surrounding Alexei Navalny’s funeral has been lifted, following several days of ambiguity and challenging inquiries. Navalny’s team communicated the details via the online messaging platform Telegram on Wednesday, February 28. The former lawyer will be laid to rest in Moscow on Friday.
“The funeral service for Alexei will be held at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady ‘Console My Sorrows’ in Marino on March 1 at 14:00 [11:00 UTC]. The funeral will take place at the Borisovsski cemetery,” Navalny’s associates disclosed.
According to one of Navalny’s close aides, Ivan Zhdanov, the burial will commence at 16:00 (13:00 UTC), approximately 20 kilometers away from the red walls of the Kremlin. The proceedings will begin with a funeral service at a small church in the middle-class neighborhood where Alexei Navalny resided, followed by an interment at one of the city’s smaller cemeteries. It is anticipated that the events will be under heavy surveillance.
Since Alexei Navalny’s body was handed over to his mother on February 24, his team had been searching for a venue for a “public farewell” but claimed to have been “denied” all requests, alleging pressure from the authorities on funeral locations. The authorities are reportedly keen to prevent the event from turning into a platform for the opposition, particularly with the presidential election looming, in which Navalny’s presence will be absent, and Putin is expected to be re-elected to power.