Funeral of slain Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow draws thousands

• Navalny’s parents attended the somber ceremony.
• “No to war”, “Putin is a murderer”, people shout.
• He died at the age of 47 in a penal colony on February 16.

Thousands of Russians gathered in Moscow to mourn and chant the name of opposition politician Alexei Navalny during his small funeral amid tight security. Reuters mentionted.

Navalny’s mother and father attended the somber ceremony in a Moscow church surrounded by police. A photo circulated on social media captured Navalny’s body lying in a flower-strewn casket, with his mother and father present.

Outside the church, a crowd, unable to enter, shouted “Navalni! while an orthodox priest performed the short service.

Protests broke out as his coffin was carried, with people chanting phrases such as “Russia will be free”, “No to war” and “Putin is a murderer”.

Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died aged 47 in an Arctic penal colony on February 16, sparking allegations of foul play by his supporters, which the Kremlin strongly denied.

The funeral came two weeks before Russia’s presidential election, which is widely expected to see Putin secure another six-year term.

Security was particularly tight at the Holy Church of the Icon of the Virgin, where the service was held. Mourners, carrying flowers, arrived early, expressing their solidarity with Navalny’s family.

The ceremony was attended by various people, each with reasons to honor Navalny.

After the funeral, Navalny’s body was taken to the Borisovskoye cemetery, accompanied by increased security measures.

More than a quarter of a million people worldwide watched the events on Navalny’s blocked YouTube channel.

As Navalny’s allies outside Russia urged the creation of memorials to Soviet-era repression, the Kremlin warned against unauthorized gatherings, citing legal violations.

Navalny’s funeral comes amid ongoing accusations and unanswered questions surrounding his death, adding complexity to the political landscape in Russia.