Putin's Critic Navalny Laid To Rest By Parents In Moscow As Thousands Chant His Name

Alexei Navalny who died in an Arctic penal colony on February 16 was laid to rest by his parents in Moscow on Friday as thousands of supporters chanted his name.

Alexei Navalny, known to be President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critic inside Russia, was buried by his parents in Moscow on Friday at a cemetery close to the place where he once lived. Thousands of Russians were present during his last rites and chanted his name while he was being laid to rest. They said that they would not forgive the authorities for his death, Reuters reported.

Navalny's mother Lyudmila along with her husband Antaloy stooped over his coffin to kiss their son for the last time and mourners stepped forward to caress his face before a priest covered him in a white shroud and closed the coffin.

Navalny died at the age of 47 in an Arctic penal colony on February 16 following which his supporters alleged that he was murdered. However, the Kremlin denied any state involvement in his sudden death.

The authorities also outlawed his movement, labelling it as extremist, and cast his supporters as troublemakers backed by the U.S. aiming to incite revolution. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, stated that he had nothing to say to Navalny's family.

Thousands of supporters gathered at the cemetery and outside the Soothe My Sorrows church in southeast Moscow to pay their respects to the deceased leader, Reuters reported.

While some people were seen carrying bunches of flowers, some were seen chanting: "Russia will be free", "No to war", "Russia without Putin", "We won't forgive" and "Putin is a murderer".

As per Reuter's report, police were present in large numbers at what turned out to be one of the biggest displays of anti-Kremlin dissent in years. However, the police did not intervene in most of the part. OVD-Info, a rights group, reported that 91 people were apprehended in 12 cities and towns, including Moscow.

Kamila, a young woman in the crowd said, "There are more than 10,000 people here, and no one is afraid."

"We came here in order to honour the memory of a man who also wasn't afraid, who wasn't afraid of anything," she added.

Another 25-year-old supporter Krill said: "Its very sad for the future of Russia... We won't give up, we will believe in something better."

Since the start of war with Ukraine, public demonstrations have reportedly become very risky and rare in Russia because of which more than 20,000 people have also been detained in the past two years.

Despite the significant turnout and moments of defiance witnessed on Friday, Navalny's passing leaves Russia's divided opposition in an increasingly vulnerable state, especially as Putin gears up to prolong his 24-year tenure by another six years in the upcoming election this month. All prominent critics of the president are either imprisoned or fled the country, Reuters reported.