“We won’t forget you”: supporters attend Navalny’s funeral, amidst heavy police presence

Alexei Navalny died on February 16 in prison, but his supporters promised this Friday to keep his memory alive. “We won’t forget you”, was heard from the crowd that attended his farewell, according to the BBC. As the bells rang in the church where the funeral ceremony took place and the coffin carrying the body of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s opponent came out, those present sang the name “Navalny” and threw roses and carnations onto the road.

Despite political criticism from the crowd, the BBC described that the police did not act when the coffin was transported to the church. The dissatisfaction of Navalny’s supporters translated into chants such as “Russia will be free”, “no to war” and “you weren’t afraid, and neither are we”.

The human rights monitoring group OVD-Info indicated this Friday that at least one person was detained at the funeral of Russian opponent Alexei Navalny, wrote CNN International. It is also reported that another 22 people were arrested when they tried to leave their homes to participate in the ceremony. The information has not been independently verified.

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According to Reuters, the ceremony was accompanied by a strong security presence, with dozens of police vehicles parked around the church in the Maryino neighborhood. Few were able to enter, but Navalny’s allies indicated that thousands of people went to the site and that the authorities blocked the telephone network in the area.

Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, thanked those who attended the church and those who planned to go to the Borisovskoye cemetery, which was isolated with protective barriers. “Everyone who supports Alexei and writes about this is very important now and will be even more important in the future. Please don’t stop,” she said on a YouTube channel, cited by CNN International.

Kremlin warns that unauthorized demonstrations are illegal

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that holding unauthorized demonstrations would be seen as illegal, on a day when Alexei Navalny’s supporters gathered outside the church where the Russian opponent’s funeral ceremony took place and there were calls for improvised memorials .

“We have no comment [sobre estes apelos]. We have to remember that there are laws and they must be followed. Any unauthorized gatherings will be a violation of the law. Consequently, anyone who participates in them will be held accountable in accordance with existing legislation,” said Peskov, quoted by Russian state agency TASS. The news agency also describes that the spokesperson refused to make an assessment of Navalny’s activities.

A TASS agency described that the United States ambassador to Russia was present, as well as diplomatic figures from France, Germany, Norway and Denmark. And he pointed out that the police were deployed to “monitor public order”.

When speaking this week at the European Parliament, Yulia Navalnaya expressed concern about the possibility that the funeral would not go smoothly. “I’m still not sure if it will be peaceful or if the police will arrest those who come to say goodbye to my husband,” said Navalny’s widow.

Now, Yulia left a message for Navalny. “Thank you for 26 years of absolute happiness. Yes, even for the happiness of the last three years. For your love, for always supporting me, for making me laugh even in prison, for always thinking of me,” she wrote, quoted by CNN Internacional.

News updated at 4:41 pm