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Church in Moscow (February 29): Funeral service planned for Navalny

Photo: Uncredited / dpa

According to those close to him, there will be no hearse available for the funeral of Russian Krelm critic Alexei Navalny.

Unknown people threatened funeral homes so that they wouldn't rent out a car, Navalny spokeswoman Kira Yarmysch said on Thursday on the "X" platform.

So until recently there was no car available for the funeral on Friday in Moscow.

However, Navalny's team said that a solution would be found.

The funeral service is scheduled to begin in the church in honor of the Mother of God icon "Relieve my sorrow" at 2 p.m. local time (12 p.m. CET), before the burial is planned at the Borisovskoye Cemetery, about half an hour's walk away.

47-year-old Alexei Navalny died suddenly on February 16 in his “Polar Wolf” penal colony in Siberia.

Russia rejected calls from the West for an independent investigation into the death as interference in internal affairs.

According to Russian authorities, he died of natural causes.

His mother and those around him accuse the Kremlin of murder, which the Kremlin rejects.

The mother had fought for a long time to have her son's body handed over to her for burial.

According to Navalny's supporters, the regime actually wanted a secret funeral.

Widow fears arrest of mourners

According to Navalny's team, renting space for the funeral service was also difficult.

As the US broadcaster CNN reports, numerous providers canceled as soon as the name of the deceased was mentioned.

His widow Yulia Navalnaya, who wants to continue his opposition work in exile, says she fears that mourners will be arrested by the police.

In Russia, the mourners usually say goodbye to the deceased at an open coffin.

Navalny supporters called on people who cannot attend the funeral in person to gather at certain points in their hometowns on Friday evening.

Hundreds of people were arrested in several Russian cities at memorial gatherings and the laying of flowers following Navalny's death on February 16.

President Vladimir Putin wants to be confirmed in office in an election in mid-March.

jok/Reuters