Thousands of Russians gathered to bid farewell to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in a cemetery not far from his former residence. Navalny, known as President Vladimir Putin’s most formidable critic within Russia, passed away at the age of 47 in an Arctic penal colony on February 16. His parents, Lyudmila and Anatoly, leaned over his open casket to bid their final goodbye as a small ensemble performed in the background.
Controversy surrounds Navalny’s death
This event ignited claims from his followers that he had been assassinated. The Kremlin has refuted any governmental involvement in his demise.
The government has declared his movement as extremist and portrayed his followers as U.S.-backed agitators intent on inciting revolution. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed no condolences to Navalny’s family.
Public outpouring of grief
Despite the heavy police presence, the gathering transformed into one of the largest anti-Kremlin protests in recent years, with minimal intervention from law enforcement. According to the rights group, OVD-Info, 91 individuals were detained across 12 towns and cities, including Moscow.
Kamila, a young woman in the crowd, stated, “There are more than 10,000 people here, and no one is afraid. We came here to honour the memory of a man who also wasn’t afraid of anything.” Kirill, 25, added, “It’s very sad for the future of Russia… We won’t give up, we will believe in something better.”
Future of public demonstrations
Public protests in Russia are both risky and infrequent, particularly since the onset of the war in Ukraine, referred to by the Kremlin as a “special military operation”. Over 20,000 individuals were detained in the past two years.
Despite the high turnout and moments of defiance at Friday’s event, Navalny’s death leaves Russia’s fragmented opposition in an increasingly precarious situation as Putin prepares to extend his 24-year reign by another six years in the upcoming election. All of the president’s leading critics are either incarcerated or have left the country.
Even from behind bars, Navalny had inspired his supporters with his resilience and humour, frequently displayed during his legal hearings and social media posts. His death has left many feeling a profound sense of loss.
On a memorial website, more than 140,000 individuals lit “virtual candles” in Navalny’s honour. It remains unclear how many of these individuals are located within Russia.
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