From the BBC:
“Mourners shout in defiance at
funeral for Alexei Navalny”
Hundreds of people in Russia have
gathered for the funeral service of Alexei Navalny, the vocal Putin critic who
died in jail last month. Despite a large police presence and barricades set up
in the area, mourners burst into applause as his body was taken into a church
outside Moscow on Friday morning. "You weren't afraid, and neither are
we!", they shouted. Those in attendance risk arrest for showing support
for Navalny. His wife has blamed President Vladimir Putin for his death, but
Moscow says he died of natural causes.
The opposition leader died on 16
February in a Russian prison in the Arctic Circle. He had been jailed for three
years on trumped-up charges. The memorial service began just after 14:00 Moscow
time (11:00 GMT) at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows, in
Maryino. Among those pictured near the church ahead of the funeral service were
foreign dignitaries, including the US, German and French ambassadors. The
burial will take place at the nearby Borisovskoye Cemetery at 16:00.
Scenes from the area around the
church are being streamed online on Navalny's YouTube channel. His team have
complained of disruption to mobile phone signals - and no filming was allowed
inside the church itself. Scores of mourners were arrested as they gathered to
pay tribute to the Russian opposition figure in the immediate aftermath of his
death. And as many ignored those fears on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
Peskov warned that "any unauthorised gatherings will be in violation of
the law, and those who participate in them will be held accountable". Undeterred,
one mourner told Reuters news agency: "I came because this is the only
opportunity for me to say goodbye to Alexei. I admire his courage, I admire his
resilience." "Why he is feared even dead, I don't understand. That's
why I'm here," they added.
"What are they afraid of?
Why so many cars?" said another, Anna Stepanova, in reference to the
barriers and the anti-riot police trucks. "They are so afraid
themselves," she told AFP news agency. "The people who came here,
they are not scared. Alexei wasn't either." Hours before the ceremony,
Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said they were having difficulties with
arrangements. The team were even finding it difficult to find a hearse, she
said. The opposition leader's team - who are overseas and have encouraged
people to attend - had shared a map of the route between the two locations. They
also shared a list of places abroad - from Seoul to Rome, Montreal and
Stockholm - where people can join memorial services.
In March 2015, thousands lined
the streets to pay homage to slain opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, but it
was always unlikely any similar public outpouring of grief for an opponent of
President Putin would be allowed now. In recent years, Russian authorities have
cracked down on any action that could be interpreted as criticism of the
government. Attempts at commemorating Navalny's death were met by a
heavy-handed response, with makeshift monuments cleared and hundreds arrested.
Telegram channel RusNews also
said that surveillance cameras had been installed "on every
streetlight" surrounding the cemetery. First Department - a group of
lawyers and human rights defenders - has shared advice on social media for
those planning to go to Navalny's funeral. It warned about "pro-government
activists" acting as provocateurs and urged people to remain vigilant:
"Detentions cannot be ruled out after the ceremony... Stay under the radar
of security forces - do not use public transport or apply for paperwork in the
days after the funeral." The advice also includes not carrying any objects
bearing the photograph of Navalny or the symbol of his Anti-Corruption
Foundation, which was declared an extremist organisation by Russian
authorities. Navalny's mother and father were seen going into the church.
Navalny's children Daria, 23, and Zakhar, 15, live abroad. His widow, Yulia,
has also been overseas recently and might be at risk of being arrested if she
returns.
^ Hundreds of Russians braved
Putin's Russian Zs to attend (including Navalny's Parents and the US
Ambassador.)
Navalny's Wife and 2 Children,
who are outside of Russia, couldn't attend otherwise they would share his same
fate.
It just goes to show that not
every Russian is brainwashed to follow the War Criminal - Putin or his Nazi Zs.
^
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