Navalny funeral begins in Moscow amid heavy police presence

The funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is underway in Moscow, with hundreds of mourners gathering despite heightened political tensions and fears of arrests.

Barriers have been erected around the church where the memorial service began around 2 p.m. local time, ahead of the burial at 4 p.m.

There is a heavy police presence outside the church, and the burial ground has been sealed off with crash barriers.

Crowds chanted: “You were not afraid, and we are not afraid,” as the coffin was carried into the church, according to BBC reporting.

The cause of Navalny’s death in an Arctic penal colony on Feb. 16 remains unexplained, but reports say his death certificate states “natural causes.” The longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin was serving a 19-year jail term on charges of extremism.

Navalny’s supporters, his widow Yulia Navalnaya, and world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden have accused Putin of being “responsible” for his death. The Kremlin denies involvement and has slammed any suggestion of it.

Navalny’s supporters have urged those in Moscow to attend the event. Memorial services have been scheduled in other Russian towns and cities, as well as abroad, for Friday evening.

According to Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarm, several funeral agencies, commercial venues and funeral halls refused to host the service. Yarmysh said on social media platform X that “unknown people” had been calling hearse operators to “threaten them” not to transport Navalny’s body.

Navalnaya, who is overseas, told European parliamentarians earlier this week she did not know whether the funeral would be peaceful or whether there would be arrests.