Russians defy Vladimir Putin and queue to lay flowers on Alexei Navalny's grave

03 March 2024 , 20:25

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A mourner reaches out to touch the final resting place of Alexei Navalny (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of tearful mourners defied Vladimir Putin and continued to lay flowers on the grave of “murdered” Alexei Nalvalny this weekend.

The 47-year-old, who died at a vicious jail in Siberia last month, was laid to rest on Friday amid high security. Since then the plot has been buried with flowers as mourners continue to pay their respects

Some had tears in their eyes, many were young, but one pensioner, in her 70s, said: “Navalny was our last hope. Now I don’t know how we can get rid of this evil Putin.”

A poster at the grave read: "Heroes do not die. Thank you Alexei”. A card on some flowers was inscribed - echoing Navalny's call to his supporters: "I will no longer be afraid."

The Navalny fans came despite fears the security services are filming everyone passing by the grave. Moscow’s repressive familial recognition cameras can mean they will face repression later. Many of Navalny’s family and team are abroad, fearing arrest if they come to Russia.

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More mourners at the grave site (AFP via Getty Images)

The politician’s wife Yulia, 47, along with the couple’s daughter and son, are outside Russia, but Navalny’s mother Lyudmila, 69, and his widow Yulia’s mother, Alla, led mourners on Friday and Saturday.

Watched by balaclava-clad security officers and riot police tensions ran high as family and supporters buried Putin’s biggest political opponent. Two dozen Navalny followers were detained as they tried to make it to the funeral, another was arrested at the site and more seizures are expected. But supporters chanted “Alexei, Alexei,” with others declaring: “We won’t forget you - please forgive us,” at the solemn and tense Moscow ceremony. One shouted: "You weren't afraid, neither are we!" and later "No to war!".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged those gathering in Moscow and other places not to break the law, saying any "unauthorised (mass) gatherings" are violations. At a church ceremony before his burial Navalny’s sobbing parent’s kissed their son before the open casket was sealed and taken for burial. His mother Lyudmila Navalnya sobbed, covering the face of the 47 year-old politician with a funeral shroud.

And even in death Navalny was defiant, drawing huge crowds of adoring followers and loved-ones, his coffin lowered to the tune of Frank Sinatra’ “My way.” It was apparently one of his favourite songs but the words will echo round the corridors of Kremlin from where Putin is suspected of having ordered his murder.

Antony Clements-Thrower