Thousands of people are stilling lining the streets of Moscow to pay their respects to Alexei Navalny, the outspoken dissident who was allegedly murdered at the hands of the Russian state last month.
Navalny died in the IK-3 penal colony, also known as Polar Wolf, in the settlement of Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets Region of Russia, around 1,200 miles from Moscow, on February 16.
His funeral service took place on Friday in the Soothe My Sorrows Church in Moscow, where his family held an open casket funeral for his loved ones and his closest followers.
Under a heavy police presence, Mr Navalny’s mother Lyudmilla Navalnaya was accompanied by his mother-in-law, Alla Abrosimova, who joined other mourners to say a final goodbye to Mr Navalny
But more than 48 hours later, thousands are still taking to the streets of Moscow to pay their respects to the dead dissident.
Navalny died in the IK-3 penal colony, also known as Polar Wolf, in the settlement of Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets Region of Russia , around 1,200 miles from Moscow
Thousands are still taking to the streets of Moscow to pay their respects to the dead dissident
grave after dozens of supporters were detained for flocking to the Putin critic’s funeral Defiant mourners have braved the fury of the Russian state, which arrested nearly 70 people across Russia for daring to mourn the loss of the opposition figure
Defiant mourners have braved the fury of the Russian state, which arrested nearly 70 people across Russia for daring to mourn the loss of the opposition figure.
Arrests took place ‘in 16 towns’ across Russia, including six in Moscow where the funeral of Vladimir Putin’s most feared critic was held.
The ceremony took place under a huge police presence as thousands defied the president’s warnings and descended on the capital.
Some 18 people were detained in Siberian city Novosibirsk alone, according to OVD-Info.
It is believed that arrests were also made in the cities of Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk in central Russia.
Mourners following the hearse in Moscow threw red carnations as it passed and could be heard shouting ‘Putin is a murderer’ and ‘Russia will be free’.
Arrests took place ‘in 16 towns’ across Russia, including six in Moscow
The ceremony took place under a huge police presence as thousands defied the president’s warnings and descended on the capital
Some 18 people were detained in Siberian city Novosibirsk alone
It is believed that arrests were also made in the cities of Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk in central Russia
Mourners following the hearse in Moscow threw red carnations as it passed and could be heard shouting ‘Putin is a murderer’ and ‘Russia will be free’
There were also unconfirmed reports that Navalny’s supporters were arrested as they left their homes to attend the funeral.
It is thought that one of those detained during the ceremony was an opposition politician.
The Kremlin had warned that action would be taken against any ‘unauthorised protests’ on the day of Navalny’s funeral, with 400 having been arrested for laying flowers at memorial sites following the outspoken politician’s death two weeks ago.
Riot police, who wore balaclavas, lined the streets around the Russian Orthodox church and police snipers could be spotted on roofs near the scene.
Under the heavy police presence, a long queue could be seen forming near the church in the southeast of the capital, with reports saying thousands were in attendance.
One person said: ‘I feel this is a funeral for the Russia that might have been.’
There were also unconfirmed reports that Navalny’s supporters were arrested as they left their homes to attend the funeral
The Kremlin had warned that action would be taken against any ‘unauthorised protests’ on the day of Navalny’s funeral
It is thought that one of those detained during the ceremony was an opposition politician
As the coffin was carried out of a black hearse and into the church, loud chants of ‘Navalny, Navalny!’ rang out around the square outside.
While attendee details were not known, the French, German and US ambassadors were in the crowd, as were some of Russia’s last free independent politicians.
The international community swiftly condemned the death of Alexei Navalny, with many nations suspecting or even outright accusing Vladimir Putin of orchestrating his death.
Canada today announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on Sunday over the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The latest sanctions will target six Russian officials, including senior officials and high-ranking employees of Russia’s prosecution, judicial and correctional services, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.
The international community swiftly condemned the death of Alexei Navalny, with many nations suspecting or even outright accusing Vladimir Putin of orchestrating his death
Canada announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on Sunday over the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny
The latest sanctions will target six Russian officials, including senior officials and high-ranking employees of Russia’s prosecution, judicial and correctional services, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement
Canada’s sanctions follow the UK and the US, both of which targeted Russia with heavy sanctions.
The US announced more than 500 new sanctions against key parts of Russia’s economy, including its main card payment system, financial and military institutions and officials involved in Navalny’s imprisonment.
The UK, meanwhile, introduced more than 50 new sanctions that aim to take out Russia’s war machine, focusing on suppliers of rocket launchers, missiles and explosives.
The UK also sanctioned six Russian prison bosses in charge of the Polar Wolf penal colony.