Funeral Arrangements Finalized for Alexei Navalny

By Best Newspaper Editor

Russian Authorities Confirm Burial on Friday

MOSCOW — According to Kira Yarmysh, the spokeswoman for the late Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader will be buried on Friday in Moscow. The funeral will take place at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in Navalny’s hometown of Maryino at 2 p.m., followed by the burial at Borisov Cemetery.

Rumors of Pressure and Blackmail

Since Navalny’s death was announced by prison officials on Feb. 16, speculations surrounding the circumstances of his death and rumored pressure from Russian authorities have been rampant. Many believe that the Russian government wishes to avoid a public burial ceremony, fearing large attendance and potential demonstrations by supporters.

Mother’s Claims and Funeral Venue Challenges

Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, provided insight into the family’s difficulties in organizing the funeral. She reported that investigators attempted to pressure the family into holding a secret, private funeral, and even threatened to let Navalny’s body decompose if they did not comply. Additionally, finding a suitable venue for the funeral has been an immense challenge, with many locations either claiming to be busy or directly refusing their services upon mention of Navalny’s name.

Accusations Against Russian President Vladimir Putin

Navalny’s wife, family, and colleagues have openly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of orchestrating the assassination of Navalny, his most prominent challenger and critic. Navalny had already survived a poisoning attempt in 2020, which was later proven to have been carried out by Russian state agents. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed these allegations, deeming them “absolutely unacceptable” and “boorish.”