Plans underway for public funeral of Alexei Navalny, amid growing demand for independent death inquiry
"We are in the process of securing a public location for the final farewell to Alexei. The target date is the end of the work week," wrote Kira Yarmysh on her social media profile.
Last Saturday, she explained that the politician's body had been returned to his mother. However, Yarmysh wasn't certain if the authorities would permit the funeral to be organized as desired by the family and in a manner that would honor Alexei.
Following Yarmysh's post, a flurry of comments emerged. Numerous netizens requested details about an independent examination into the opposition leader's death, with several pleading for its conduction. Others suggested that Navalny's funeral be held on a non-working day, so they could attend without seeking work leave. Cumulative reactions imply that many individuals wish to bid their final goodbyes to Navalny in person.
Alexei Navalny's unexpected death
Russian authorities announced the unexpected demise of Navalny, Vladimir Putin's most prominent political rival, on February 16. Allegedly, Navalny died in prison, where he was enduring a 19-year sentence and even faced the risk of imprisonment extending up to 30 years. The authorities declined to release the politician's body to his loved ones.
Navalny's mother, Ludmila, faced an ultimatum from prison authorities: either consent to a muted funeral at a local cemetery or her son would be laid to rest within the prison grounds. According to independent Russian reports, Ludmila challenged these actions in local court and rallied support from her son's advocates.
Navalny's family, Orthodox adherents, and clergy, along with representatives from the media and arts, campaigned for the release of Navalny's remains.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former chief of the Yuko's corporation and a leading Russian opposition figure in the West, speculated that the Russian authority's reluctance to hand over Navalny's body sprang from fears that his funeral might incite aggressive protests.
On Monday, Maria Pevchikh, a close associate of the late opposition leader, disclosed that plans were underway for Navalny's release as part of an exchange involving an FSB officer serving a prison term in Berlin.
