Alexei Navalny — Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s primary political opponent – did not die unnoticed, as evidenced by the emotional scenes at his recent funeral in Moscow.
Thousands of individuals gathered to pay their respects to Navalny, with some bearing flowers, as his body was interred in a closed casket and brought inside the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows. The procession of his supporters was truly remarkable, spanning several blocks.
Despite warnings from Russian authorities not to take photographs during the event, many attendees defied these orders. A picture circulating on Navalny’s YouTube channel depicted his body surrounded by flowers within the church.
While Navalny’s parents attended, his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and their two children, Daria and Zakhar, chose not to be present at the funeral, likely due to security concerns.
In a separate development, over four hundred individuals were apprehended by Putin’s security forces, some merely for displaying flowers at Navalny’s various memorial locations.
Navalny tragically passed away on February 16 while imprisoned in a correctional facility north of the Arctic Circle. He fell unconscious during a walk and despite prompt medical attention, he could not be revived.
Although the official cause of Navalny’s death remains undisclosed, his mother, Lyudmila, was informed by prison officials that he suffered from “‘sudden death syndrome,” a condition that can lead to cardiac arrest and sudden death due to heart complications.
Many believe Putin bears responsibility for Navalny’s death, given the history between them. Navalny was a prominent critic of Putin and the Russian leader denied the family access to Navalny’s body for weeks after his passing, despite their repeated requests.
FAQs
Q: Why did Navalny’s family not attend the funeral?
A: Navalny’s widow and children likely avoided the funeral due to security concerns.
Q: How did Navalny pass away?
A: Navalny died while in prison, with officials citing “sudden death syndrome” as a possible cause leading to heart complications.
Q: Why do many people believe Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death?
A: Navalny was a vocal opponent of Putin, and the Russian leader’s actions post-Navalny’s passing have raised suspicions among the public.