Against risk of arrest, crowd rallies at Navalny's funeral in Moscow

In a gathering outside the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrow in Moscow, a multitude of people came together to bid farewell to the late Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.

 

The atmosphere intensified as Navalny's coffin arrived, with the air echoing with chants of his name from the assembled crowd. The funeral service concluded, and Navalny's mother, Lyudmila, received warm embraces from mourners outside the church.

 

In a video circulating on social media, individuals approached Lyudmila, expressing gratitude for her son and seeking forgiveness. Unfortunately, cameras were prohibited from capturing the church's interior during the service, but attendees managed to share images of the proceedings.

 

One widely circulated photo displayed Navalny in an open casket, adhering to Russian Orthodox tradition, allowing mourners to view and touch the deceased's face. The image, shared extensively on social media, depicted Navalny surrounded by red and white roses, his mother Lyudmila, father Anatoliy, and others holding candles, with an Orthodox priest standing nearby.

 

As Navalny's coffin emerged from the church, the crowd displayed deep emotion, tossing flowers onto the hearse carrying the opposition leader's remains. Chants resonated through the air, including expressions like "executioners!", "Russia will be free!" and "no war!", underscoring the charged sentiments of those present.