The neighborhood on Moscow’s outskirts was packed with thousands of people on Friday, some carrying flowers and chanting, “No to war!” as they gathered to witness the funeral of Aleksei A. Navalny. Despite the heavy police presence, there were no reports of widespread arrests during the funeral services, which took place under close monitoring from the Russian authorities. The opposition leader’s final rites turned into a powerful demonstration of dissent in Russia during a period of severe repression.
After a procession to the cemetery, mourners said their last goodbyes to Mr. Navalny as his coffin was lowered into the grave to the sound of music he loved. As people passed by, they each took a handful of dirt to throw into the grave. Inside the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows, attendees lined up to pay their respects to Mr. Navalny, with security cameras newly installed inside. A photo shared on social media showed the open coffin of Mr. Navalny surrounded by flowers, with his parents holding lit candles.
As the funeral came to an end, mourners chanted, “Thank you, Aleksei” and “Love is stronger than fear.” Some cried out for peace in Ukraine and freedom in Russia. The United States ambassador to Russia and opposition politicians were among those in attendance. Despite efforts by the authorities to prevent sharing of photos and videos from the event, hundreds of thousands of people watched live streams online.
Mr. Navalny’s funeral was held in the midst of a crackdown by the Russian government, with hundreds detained since his death. The Kremlin spokesperson declined to comment on Mr. Navalny’s political legacy and warned against any unsanctioned gatherings. The funeral service was not mentioned in Russian state news agencies, and there were reports of obstacles in arranging the funeral services due to pressure from the authorities.
Mr. Navalny’s family faced challenges in receiving his body from the morgue and organizing the funeral, with difficulty negotiating with authorities regarding the services. His supporters accuse the Kremlin of causing his death and obstructing the funeral arrangements. The official cause of death was cited as “natural causes,” but supporters question this conclusion. Mr. Navalny had faced harsh conditions in Russian prisons and had been denied access to a dentist for several months.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Navalny’s funeral was a powerful display of dissent and a tribute to his legacy as a prominent opposition figure in Russia.