Thousands of people attended the funeral of Alexeï Navalny, the main detractor of Vladimir Putin, who died on February 16 in troubled circumstances in prison in Moscow on Friday, despite the risk of being arrested.
During the day, the police carried out “at least 67 arrests in sixteen cities”, including six in the Russian capital, during rallies in tribute to the former anti-corruption activist, according to the specialized NGO OVD- Info.
Present in numbers with flowers, some in tears, Alexeï Navalny’s supporters chanted “No to war!”, “We will not forget you!” or even “We will not forgive!”.
After a short ceremony in a church where his remains were displayed in an open coffin in accordance with the Orthodox rite, in the presence of his parents but in the absence of his wife Yulia, the opponent was buried in the Borissovo cemetery. , noted AFP journalists.
At the time of the funeral, the soundtrack of the film “Terminator 2” sounded, which according to Alexeï Navalny was the “best film ever made”, explained his spokesperson Kira Iarmysh.
Many people then paraded in front of his grave, placing flowers and paying their respects.
Earlier, in the church, his body was shown to the public for the first time, covered with dozens of red and white flowers, while the audience held candles, AFP saw.
Those who managed to enter the small building were able to see his pale face with distorted features.
Outside, several thousand people gathered, forming a very long line. The riot police, very present, had dotted the area with barriers.
“It’s painful, people like him should not die, honest people, with principles, ready to sacrifice themselves,” says Anna Stepanova.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov warned of potential sanctions in the event of participation in any “unauthorized” demonstration during the funeral.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the “brave Russians” who dared to go to the funeral of Alexei Navalny “and thus took a great risk – for freedom”.
“My model”
Arrival of Alexei Navalny’s funeral convoy to a church in the Marino district (southeast of Moscow), March 1, 2024. / Alexander NEMENOV / AFP
His widow Yulia Navalnaïa thanked her husband from abroad for “these 26 years of absolute happiness”, in a farewell message posted on social networks.
“I don’t know how I’m going to live without you but I’m going to do my best so that you are happy and proud of me up there,” she added.
“Dad, you have always been and will forever remain my role model,” insisted his daughter Dacha, on Instagram, evoking the “kindness”, “optimism” and “sense of humor” of his father, “my hero”.
The opponent’s brother, Oleg Navalny, for his part released photos showing the two men together, accompanied by the caption: “Sleep peacefully, my brother, and don’t worry about anything.”
Alexeï Navalny died at the age of 47 in a penal colony in the Arctic and his collaborators, Yulia Navalnaïa as well as the West have accused Vladimir Putin of having been responsible for his death, which the Kremlin denies.
Arrival of the first participants for the farewell ceremony in a church in the Marino district (southeast of Moscow) for Alexei Navalny, March 1, 2024 / Alexander NEMENOV / AFP
After delaying handing over his remains to his loved ones, the Russian authorities finally did so last weekend, allowing a funeral.
The American ambassador and her French and German counterparts visited the site, as did three opposition figures still at large: Evgeni Roïzman, Boris Nadezhdine and Ekaterina Dountsova.
Funeral of Alexeï Navalny / Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA, Sabrina BLANCHARD / AFP
According to Maxime, a 43-year-old computer scientist who requested anonymity, Alexeï Navalny “showed freedom”.
Denis, a 26-year-old volunteer in a charity association, for his part pays tribute to a man thanks to whom he became “interested in politics”, in a Russia where young people’s disinterest in political issues is very strong, on background of growing repression of all opposition.
Continue the fight
Ioulia Navalnaïa, widow of opponent Alexeï Navalny, speaks in front of the European Parliament, February 28, 2024 in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin) / FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP
Since the handing over of Alexeï Navalny’s body to his mother, his team had been looking for a place for a “public farewell” but was “rejected” any request.
Despite everything, she called on Muscovites to say goodbye to Alexeï Navalny on the spot and his supporters in other cities to go and pay their respects in front of memorials.
Public actions embarrassing for those in power, two weeks before the presidential election (March 15-17) which should extend the reign of Vladimir Putin.
Abroad too, rallies to honor the memory of the opponent are planned. In Tbilisi, dozens of people laid flowers and lit candles in front of the Russian embassy.
Russian opponent Alexei Navalny addresses his supporters during an unauthorized anti-Putin rally on May 5, 2018 in Moscow / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP/Archives
Before his poisoning in 2020, which he barely survived and for which he blamed Vladimir Putin, then his arrest and sentence to 19 years in prison for “extremism”, Alexeï Navalny managed to mobilize crowds, particularly in the Russian capital.
His movement, which relied on investigations denouncing the corruption of Russian elites, has been methodically dismantled in recent years and many of its collaborators have found themselves behind bars or in exile.
After the death of her husband, Yulia Navalnaïa pledged to continue her fight.
Leonid Volkov, an ally of the late opponent, promised Friday that his team “would not give up”. “Good always triumphs over evil.”
