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Police officers in front of the Borisovskoye cemetery

Photo: REUTERS

On the day of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's funeral, police in Russia arrested more than 70 people across the country in connection with the expressions of mourning, according to the non-governmental organization OWD-Info, as "Meduza" reports.

Most of the arrests took place in Novosibirsk, the organization said on Friday on the Telegram online service.

Six people were arrested in Moscow, where thousands of people took part in the funeral ceremonies for Navalny.

Numerous people gathered in front of the church in the Marino district in southeast Moscow as the funeral service for the prominent opposition figure took place there.

Metal barriers were set up in the square in front of the church and a large number of security forces were on site.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously warned against unauthorized protests.

Putin wants to be confirmed as president in two weeks.

This is not a real election and it is already a foregone conclusion that Putin will be declared the winner.

Even if there is an opponent who is loyal to the system, a real rival to Putin is unlikely to be admitted to the election.

Most of Putin's political opponents are in prison or in exile.

Widow and team not present for fear of arrests

Navalny was then buried in the nearby Borisovskoye Cemetery in the presence of his parents.

A crowd gathered near the cemetery chanted slogans such as "No to war," "We will not forget you" and "We will not forgive."

After the funeral, numerous people made a pilgrimage past Navalny's grave, laid flowers or paused for a moment in remembrance.

Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya, his daughter Daria and his son Sakhar did not attend the memorial service because they are abroad for their own safety.

Navalny's wife had accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering her husband.

She would risk being arrested in Russia - also because she wants to continue her husband's fight against Putin.

Navalny's team is also not in the country because his employees, who are considered extremists, would also be arrested immediately.

Navalny's confidants Leonid Volkov and Ruslan Shaveddinov hosted a live stream for hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Completely weakened by a poison attack in 2020 and constant solitary confinement later in the camp, Navalny collapsed in the prison yard on February 16 at the age of just 47, according to official information.

According to his team, there can be no question of a “natural” cause of death, as stated on the death certificate.

czl/AFP/dpa