Funeral service in Moscow

Navalny’s funeral will take place on March 1

After Navalny's death, there is grief and horror worldwide. There are still many unanswered questions that the Kremlin must address ... Pictured: Sea of flowers in front of the Russian Embassy in Vienna.(Bild: APA/dpa/Fabian Sommer)

There are still many unanswered questions following the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in a prison camp. As was recently revealed, the Kremlin critic was apparently about to be released. The cause of death is still unclear. It became known on Tuesday: Navalny's funeral is to take place in Moscow on March 1. 

Initially, a farewell ceremony will take place in a church in the Marjino district at 2 pm local time (12 pm CET). Navalny will be buried at the nearby Borisov cemetery, according to his spokeswoman Kira Yarmish.

According to his team, the organization of the funeral service for the Kremlin critic, who died in custody, had been obstructed by the authorities in Russia for days in the run-up to the event. 

"After a day of searching, we still haven't found a funeral hall," complained Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh on X on Tuesday (see article above). Some funeral homes had said they were fully booked, others had refused as soon as Navalny's name was mentioned.

After Navalny's death, there is grief and horror around the world. There are still many unanswered questions that the Kremlin must face ...(Bild: APA/dpa/Fabian Sommer)

Sea of flowers in front of the Russian Embassy in Vienna in memory of Navalny(Bild: APA/TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

Body kept under lock and key for a week
The authorities also kept the body under lock and key for more than a week. Mother Lyudmila Navalnaya called for a public funeral so that not only family members but also supporters could say goodbye to the Russian opposition leader. After the body was finally handed over to the relatives at the weekend, the team announced its intention to organize a public funeral service. This will take place on Friday in Moscow.

Importance of Moscow for Navalny
The Russian capital was of great importance in Navalny's life. He graduated in law there in 1998 and in securities and stock exchange studies in 2001. In September 2013, he received 27% of the vote in the mayoral election and has since been considered the leader of the anti-Putin organization. In 2021, he was arrested at Moscow airport and sentenced to a prison camp shortly afterwards.

Circumstances of death still unclear
Navalny died on February 16 in a prison camp in the Siberian Arctic region of Yamal, according to the authorities. The circumstances of his death have not been clarified. 

The politician, weakened by the 2020 poison attack and repeated solitary confinement in the camp, is said to have collapsed during a tour of the icy prison yard and died despite attempts at resuscitation. According to Navalny's team, the death certificate mentions "natural" causes. The politician was only 47 years old.