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Alexei Navalny’s funeral to be held on Friday in Moscow

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Alexei Navalny’s burial is confirmed to take place at Borisovskoye Cemetery in Moscow on Friday, following a farewell ceremony at a local church. Yulia Navalnaya, his widow, expressed uncertainty about the funeral’s peacefulness and the potential for police interference.

Navalny, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, died unexpectedly in a Siberian prison earlier this month, sparking accusations against the Russian president from his widow and many world leaders. Details surrounding Navalny’s death remain scant, with Russian authorities initially resisting releasing his body to his family.

Funeral arrangements faced obstacles, with some funeral homes refusing service due to the deceased’s identity. Yulia Navalnaya addressed the European Parliament, criticizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine and advocating for a more effective strategy against Putin.

The funeral date was adjusted due to logistical challenges, with Navalny’s team urging attendees to arrive early. Security concerns loom over the event, given recent arrests of those paying tribute to Navalny across Russia. Allegations surfaced of a potential prisoner swap involving Navalny, but the Kremlin denies any knowledge of such arrangements.

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Alexei Navalny: Putin critic’s mother says she has been shown his body

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Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of Alexei Navalny, stated in a video that she was shown her son’s body by Russian authorities, but they are pressuring her to agree to a “secret” burial. She reported signing a death certificate at a morgue. Navalny’s press secretary mentioned a medical report indicating natural causes, while his widow believes he was killed by Russian authorities. Navalnaya expressed frustration at officials refusing to hand over her son’s body and alleged blackmail, stating that they are dictating conditions for the burial. She demanded the return of Navalny’s body and claimed threats from authorities.

Navalnaya met with US President Joe Biden along with Navalny’s widow and daughter in San Francisco. Biden praised Navalny’s courage and anti-corruption efforts, announcing forthcoming sanctions on Russia. Navalny died in a penal colony on February 16, purportedly after falling ill during a walk, though his widow accuses Putin of ordering his killing. The Kremlin denies involvement, dismissing Western reactions as “hysterical.”

Analysts suggest that showing Navalnaya the body aims to negotiate a non-politicized funeral. Navalny was previously poisoned with Novichok in 2020, survived after treatment in Germany, then imprisoned upon returning to Russia in 2021. Russian authorities have aggressively cracked down on attempts to commemorate Navalny’s death, detaining hundreds and removing makeshift memorials.

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Navalny’s widow accuses Putin of killing him and vows to continue his work

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Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, has directly accused President Vladimir Putin of bearing responsibility for her husband’s demise. Through a video shared on Navalny’s social media platforms, Navalnaya unequivocally stated that Putin had “killed the father of my children” and robbed her of her “closest and most beloved person.”

Navalnaya further criticized Russian authorities for allegedly concealing Navalny’s body, insinuating that they were attempting to obscure the true cause of death. She suggested that they might be waiting for any potential traces of a Novichok poisoning to dissipate, referencing Navalny’s previous poisoning with the nerve agent in August 2020. This incident had been later linked to an FSB hit squad, as uncovered by a joint investigation by CNN and Bellingcat.

Despite Navalnaya’s strong assertions, she did not provide any evidence to substantiate her claim that a second poisoning led to her husband’s recent death in an Arctic penal colony. The circumstances surrounding Navalny’s demise remain unclear, with the Kremlin acknowledging an ongoing investigation into the matter. As of now, the results of this investigation are yet to be determined.

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Russia places Estonia’s prime minister on wanted list

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Russian authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, alleging political motivations behind the charges. Alongside Kallas, Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys were accused of damaging or destroying Soviet monuments dedicated to Soviet soldiers, according to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency. Despite Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirming the charges, the timing of the alleged offense remains unspecified. By Wednesday, officials from all three Baltic states were included on Russia’s wanted list.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kallas declared Estonia’s intention to remove all Soviet monuments from public spaces. This decision, seen as a response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, likely exacerbated tensions between Estonia and Russia, culminating in the recent legal actions against Kallas and other Baltic officials.

Kallas, seemingly the first head of state placed on the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list since the invasion began, responded defiantly on social media. She viewed the move as unsurprising and a testament to her support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Kallas vowed to continue backing Ukraine despite Kremlin attempts to silence her.

Latvia and Lithuania reacted strongly to Russia’s actions, summoning their respective Russian ambassadors and condemning the charges as politically motivated. Estonia also summoned Russia’s charges d’affaires in response.

Estonia, having experienced Soviet occupation, joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. NATO’s expansion to Russia’s border has long unsettled Russian President Vladimir Putin, who perceives the alliance as a threat to Russia’s security. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has heightened concerns in Estonia, prompting efforts to bolster defense measures and support for Ukraine.

Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned of Russia potentially increasing troop numbers on its borders with the Baltic countries and Finland, a NATO member since last year. Estonian officials stressed the importance of collective defense and increased spending on defense, with Estonia’s defense budget set to exceed 3% of GDP for the first time this year. In his annual foreign policy speech, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna strongly condemned Russian aggression and affirmed support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need to resist aggression and uphold democratic values.

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