Thousands visit Navalny's grave amid Kremlin displeasure
On Saturday, Alexei Navalny's mother, Ludmila, paid a visit to his grave. She was joined by Alla Abrosimova, the mother of Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya. Yulia Navalnaya herself is not in Russia; she and her children are currently abroad. She also did not attend the mourning ceremonies, avoiding the high risk of arrest. Russian police have been stationed at the Borisov Cemetery ever since the burial took place.
3:55 AM EST, March 5, 2024
According to Meduza, visitors to the cemetery had to pass through security gates equipped with metal detectors. After laying flowers, they were promptly asked to leave the area.
By Monday, the line of people waiting to pay their respects at Navalny's grave had extended over 500 meters.
"The pain is unbearable. I'm here to honor him, to pay my respects to a courageous individual whose vision was tied to our hopes for a better future, the fight against corruption, and the quest for fair courts," stated one visitor at Navalny's grave, as quoted by rmf24.pl.
Reuters reported remarks from another mourner, noting they came "to honor the memory of a man who symbolized perseverance."
On Friday, the day of the funeral service, mourners could not access the cemetery. That same day, the streets echoed with chants of "We are not afraid," "Russia will be free" as thousands were detained during protests.
On the day Alexei Navalny was buried, Friday, March 1, police detained 103 people in 20 different Russian cities.
The death that shook Russia
The sudden death of Alexei Navalny was reported on February 16. He was Vladimir Putin's most formidable political adversary. Navalny died in the "Polar Wolf 2" prison camp, located beyond the Arctic Circle, where he was serving a 19-year sentence. The precise circumstances surrounding his death remain obscure.
