In a poignant display of solidarity and grief, hundreds of individuals have converged at Borisovsky Cemetery in Moscow to pay their respects to the late Russian opposition figure, Alexey Navalny. Captured by OVD-Info, an independent Russian human rights group, poignant images depict a long queue of mourners, tenderly laying flowers at Navalny’s final resting place.
Mourning Amidst Controversy: Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, joined the procession on the second day, accompanied by the mother of his widow, Yulia, as reported by Reuters. Despite the risks, thousands defied potential arrests to attend Navalny’s funeral, held two weeks after his demise at the age of 47 in an Arctic penal colony.
Global Outcry and Security Measures: Navalny’s death stirred condemnation from world leaders and accusations of foul play from his aides, vehemently denied by the Kremlin. On the day of the funeral, 103 people were detained across 20 Russian cities, with riot police implementing stringent security measures, including searches, filming of mourners, and mandatory metal detector screenings.
A Life Marked by Struggle: Returning to Russia in 2021 after surviving Novichok poisoning in Germany, Navalny faced immediate arrest on what he deemed politically motivated charges. His life unfolded behind bars, becoming a symbol of opposition against the Russian government.
