The team of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who died in custody, has urged people to come to the opposition figure’s memorial service and funeral in Moscow on Friday, despite the expected police presence.
The funeral service at the church is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time (12 p.m. CET), and the burial at the Borisovskoye cemetery is planned two hours later, Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysch said Thursday. Everyone for whom Navalny’s political work meant something had to come. The walk from the church in honor of the Mother of God icon “Relieve my sorrow” to the cemetery takes 28 minutes.
Navalny’s team plans to provide live online coverage of the memorial service in the southeastern neighborhood of Marjino and the funeral and recommends guests arrive early. A large security presence is expected – and there are fears that uniformed officers could block access to Navalny’s supporters. The widow Yulia Navalnaya also spread the call to come to the funeral service. Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, received her son’s body on Saturday after days of demanding that authorities hand him over to her. She refused a secret burial initially requested by authorities.
In recent days, Navalny’s team had been looking for a location for the memorial service and complained of being stymied by Russian authorities. According to Russian Orthodox custom, it is even customary to bury the dead after three days and place their bodies in an open coffin beforehand so that mourners can say goodbye. However, a room for such a farewell ritual was not made available, writes Ivan Zhdanov, the director of the anti-corruption fund founded by Navalny.
According to official information, Navalny died on February 16 at the age of 47 in a prison camp north of the Arctic Circle. The sharp critic of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin was physically weakened by a poison attack in 2020 and continued solitary confinement in the camp. His supporters and many international observers agree that there can be no “natural” cause of death, as stated on the death certificate. Yulia Navalnaya, his team and civil rights activists had accused Putin of killing the politician.
Anyone publicly mourning Navalny in Russia risks arrest. Hundreds of people were recently arrested while laying flowers for Navalny.
EU Parliament: “Putin bears responsibility for Navalny’s death”
According to the EU Parliament, Russian President Vladimir Putin bears personal criminal and political responsibility for the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who died in a prison camp.
“Putin must be held accountable”Parliament announced this on Thursday in Strasbourg.
A clear majority of parliamentarians voted in favor of a legally non-binding resolution, which also states that Russia is ruled by a consolidated authoritarian regime in which corruption is “rampant.” Rigged elections gave the appearance of democracy. However, all power is concentrated in Putin’s hands.
Parliament also expressed solidarity with all those in Russia and abroad who “still find the courage to speak the truth, despite the deliberately brutal repression and the grave personal consequences.” EU countries should consider exchanging prisoners, MPs demanded. The focus should be on political prisoners who are sick or being tortured. (saw/rbu/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
