Allies of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said Thursday they were having trouble finding a funeral home to take his body. for himself The funeral will take place this Friday in Moscow. Kira YarmishA person who served as Navalny's spokesman said on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that unknown persons were threatening coffin suppliers over the phone and that no one agreed to take Navalny's body.
Another ally, Ivan Zhdanov, said the political opponent's team would deal with the situation and find an alternative solution. Navalny, who died in a prison in the Russian Arctic on February 16 at the age of 47, is expected to be buried in the Russian capital on Friday after a religious ceremony in the southeastern suburbs of the city where he lived.
Allies of the Kremlin critic – who promised to broadcast the funeral live online – accused authorities of blocking a civil funeral they had planned to hold in his memory.
The Kremlin has already canceled funerals. Navalny's allies and family, who wish to honor his memory but cannot attend his funeral, appealed to some landmarks in their cities at 7pm local time on Friday evening.
Given previous encounters between Navalny supporters — whom Russian officials have labeled US-backed extremists — it is expected that there will be a heavy police presence and that authorities will crack down on anything they deem a political demonstration under the law. Resistance.
Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, said she was unsure whether the funeral would be peaceful or whether police would arrest those who attended.
Navalny's allies accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering his assassination because he could not tolerate Navalny being released in a potential prisoner exchange.
No evidence has been released to support the allegation, but supporters have vowed to reveal how he was murdered and by whom. The Kremlin has denied Russian state involvement in his death and said it was not aware of any deal to free Navalny. His death certificate, according to associates, indicates he died of natural causes.
“Hardcore explorer. Extreme communicator. Professional writer. General music practitioner. Prone to fits of apathy.”