The funeral procession of prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who passed away earlier this month in a remote Arctic penal colony, is scheduled to take place on Friday in Moscow, according to his spokesperson.
Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokesperson, confirmed on Tuesday that the funeral will be held at a church in Moscow’s southeast Maryino district on Friday afternoon. The burial is expected to follow at a nearby cemetery.
Navalny’s death at the age of 47 occurred in mid-February while he was serving a prison sentence in one of Russia’s harshest penal facilities. While, the exact cause of his death remains unknown, international condemnation against Russia have been raised with Russian authorities’ investigations into the matter likely to face scrutiny internationally. Several Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have already held Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for Navalny’s demise.
Speaking from the White House, Biden stated, “We don’t know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that Navalny’s death was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did.” He emphasized Putin’s responsibility for the incident and hinted at considering additional measures to sanction Russia in response.
Biden also praised Navalny for his courageous stance against the alleged corruption and violence within Putin’s government, highlighting his opposition to the regime.
