Alexei Navalny's Funeral Details Revealed
Alexei Navalny, the prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be laid to rest on Friday in Moscow. The burial will take place at Borisovskoye Cemetery following a farewell ceremony in the Maryino district.
Navalny's unexpected death occurred earlier this month while he was in an Arctic prison. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and several world leaders have pointed fingers at Putin for his demise.
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Details surrounding Navalny's death remain sparse, with Russian authorities initially refusing to release his body to his mother, Lyudmila. They eventually relented after eight days.
The funeral arrangements were disclosed as Ms. Navalnaya spoke at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She expressed uncertainty about the event's peacefulness, fearing potential arrests by the police for those attending to bid farewell to Alexei.
Navalny's team encountered difficulties finding a venue for the ceremony, facing refusals and claims of full bookings from funeral homes. They initially aimed for a February 29th funeral but had to reschedule due to logistical challenges. Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, indicated that the Kremlin's annual address to the Federal Assembly on the same day played a role in the scheduling issues.
Zhdanov urged supporters to arrive early for the funeral to have an opportunity to pay their respects. The schedule includes a morning farewell ceremony, followed by the funeral service at 2:00 PM and the burial at 4:00 PM local time.
Since Navalny's passing, around 400 people across Russia have been arrested for laying flowers in his memory, according to human rights groups.
Ms. Navalnaya received applause and a standing ovation during her European Parliament address, where she remembered her husband as an inventive politician who inspired millions despite Putin's regime.
Earlier reports suggested Navalny was on the brink of being released in a prisoner swap before his death, but the Kremlin denied any knowledge of such a plan.
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