Funeral homes in Moscow refuse to transport the activist’s body
More problems for the celebration of the funeral of Aleksei Navalni, who died last February 16 in the Arctic prison, where he was serving his sentence. Funeral homes in Moscow are refusing to transport the activist’s body to the church, where his public memorial service will take place, according to his allies. It is scheduled to be at the Archbishopric of Our Lady in Moscow, on the outskirts of the city, at 2 p.m. local time, 12 noon Catalan time.
Threats to hearse services
“All hearses receive calls from strangers threatening them not to take Aleksei’s body anywhere,” said Navalni’s spokeswoman Kira Iarmish on Thursday afternoon.
Burial ceremony in a nearby cemetery
Earlier this week, Navalny’s team in exile asked his supporters to attend his funeral this Friday at a Russian Orthodox church in the capital, followed by a burial ceremony at a nearby cemetery
Accusations of attempting to prevent public funeral
The team of the deceased has accused the authorities of trying to prevent this public funeral from being held, as it could become a show of support for Navalni’s movement and the opposition to President Vladimir Putin.
Security measures in the cemetery
As highlighted by The Moscow Times and Mediazona, there are videos and images showing that metal fences, surveillance camera detectors were installed at the Borisov cemetery in Marino district, south-east of Moscow. days before the funeral.
Death of Aleksei Navalni two weeks ago
It’s been nearly two weeks since Vladimir Putin’s most popular critic died in the Arctic prison where he was serving a sentence on charges widely seen as retaliation for political activism.
Demand for improvised memorials
Navalny’s allies have asked that those unable to attend the funeral in Moscow hold various impromptu memorials in the evening in cities or wherever they can.