“The number of Russian citizens who defied Putin’s dictatorship and were present at Alexei Navalny’s funeral was impressive. The Portuguese ambassador was present, along with almost all the European ambassadors”, wrote Gomes Cravinho, on the social network Twitter).
The minister shares the publication, also on the X network, from the Portuguese embassy in Moscow, in which it was announced that diplomat Madalena Fischer was with “the ambassadors of European Union countries and thousands of Russian citizens who yesterday [sexta-feira] they laid flowers at Alexei Navalny’s grave, in a final tribute to the memory of the Russian politician”.
The publication is accompanied by a photograph of Navalny’s grave, with the image of the opponent, who died on February 16 in prison, and a cross, covered with flowers.
Thousands of people defied the Russian authorities and gathered at the Moscow church to attend the funeral of activist Alexei Navalny, despite warnings that illegal demonstrations will not be allowed.
At least 128 people, including two minors, were arrested on Friday in Russia during tribute demonstrations, according to the most recent report from the specialized non-governmental organization (NGO) OVD-Info.
A declared critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and charismatic defender of the fight against corruption, Navalny died at the age of 47 under circumstances that are still unclear.
Prison services said he suffered a sudden collapse after a walk in the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence for extremism and the death certificate mentions a natural cause.
His associates, widow Yulia Navalnaia and many Western leaders accuse Putin of being responsible for Navalny’s death.
The Russian Presidency denied such accusations.
Tags: Navalny Cravinho impressed number Russians challenged Putins dictatorship Current Affairs
