Difficulties in Organizing Alexei Navalny’s Funeral as Team Faces Challenges
The funeral arrangements for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been marred by difficulties and challenges faced by his team. As the hours tick down to the scheduled farewell ceremony, his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, revealed that they were unable to find a hearse to transport Navalny’s body to the church. Furthermore, unknown individuals have been threatening mortuaries that agree to accept the body.
The funeral is set to take place on Friday in Maryino, a suburb of Moscow. The memorial service will be held at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows at 14:00 Moscow time, followed by the burial at the Borisovskoye Cemetery nearby at 16:00. To ensure that as many people as possible can pay their respects, the funeral service will be streamed online on Navalny’s YouTube channel.
Navalny’s death on February 16 in a Russian prison has sparked outrage and condemnation worldwide. He had been serving a three-year sentence on what his supporters believe were fabricated charges. His team has actively encouraged people to attend the funeral and has even provided a map of the route between the church and cemetery. Additionally, they have listed various locations abroad where memorial services for Navalny will be held, including Seoul, Rome, Montreal, and Stockholm.
However, it remains uncertain how many people will be able to attend the funeral in Moscow. In 2015, thousands of individuals lined the streets to pay tribute to Boris Nemtsov, another slain opposition politician. But given the Russian government’s crackdown on any form of dissent or criticism, it is unlikely that a similar public outpouring of grief for Navalny will be allowed.
Attempts to commemorate Navalny’s death have already been met with a heavy-handed response from authorities. Makeshift monuments have been cleared, and hundreds of individuals have been arrested. Social media posts on Thursday showed a significant police presence and barriers being installed near the church and cemetery. Surveillance cameras have also been reportedly placed on every streetlight surrounding the burial site.
In light of potential risks, the First Department, a group of lawyers and human rights defenders, has shared advice on social media for those planning to attend Navalny’s funeral. They warn about the presence of pro-government activists acting as provocateurs and urge people to remain vigilant. The advice includes staying under the radar of security forces, avoiding public transport, and refraining from carrying any objects bearing Navalny’s photograph or the symbol of his Anti-Corruption Foundation, which has been declared an extremist organization by Russian authorities.
The attendance of Navalny’s family members at the funeral remains uncertain, except for his mother, Lyudmila, who publicly accused the authorities of withholding her son’s body. Navalny’s children, Daria and Zakhar, live abroad, while his widow, Yulia, is believed to be at risk of arrest if she returns to Russia due to her involvement with Navalny’s team and her recent public statements blaming President Vladimir Putin for her husband’s death.
Navalny’s team has faced numerous obstacles in organizing a public farewell ceremony for the opposition leader. Funeral homes claimed to be fully booked or forbidden from working with them. The authorities have reportedly attempted to thwart their efforts for days.
As the world watches closely, the difficulties surrounding Alexei Navalny’s funeral highlight the ongoing challenges faced by those who oppose the Russian government. Despite these obstacles, Navalny’s legacy as a prominent figure in the fight against corruption and injustice will undoubtedly endure.
