On March 1, 2024, Alexey Navalny’s funeral was held in Moscow. Despite nearly all demonstrations being illegal in Russia, thousands of people gathered at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Soothe My Sorrows, where Navalny’s funeral service took place, and at the Borisovskoye Cemetery, where he was buried. Those in attendance included diplomats from the U.S. and Europe, as well as Russian politicians Yevgeny Roizman, Boris Nadezhdin, and Yekaterina Duntsova. Prior to the ceremony, police cordoned off the area around the church with metal barriers. Disruptions to Internet service in the area of the church were also reported.
Meduza is sharing a collection of photos documenting the farewell.
Police and the National Guard started to gather at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Soothe My Sorrows early in the morning. While the exact number of officers it not clear, judging by photos posted to social media, it appears to be in the hundreds.
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Georgy Guzovsky / Meduza
The area between the Maryino metro and the church (around 200 meters or 656 feet) was blocked off by metal barriers.
Alexander Nemenov / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
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A large line formed outside the church in a matter of minutes. According to estimates from journalists at the scene, thousands of people came to bid farewell to Navalny.
Varlamov news Telegram channel
The coffin holding the body of Alexey Navalny.
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Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
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The coffin holding Navalny’s body being carried out of the church after the funeral service, which lasted for only about 20 minutes.
Alexander Nemenov / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
Alexander Nemenov / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
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People who came to bid farewell to Navalny chanted “Thank you, Alexey!” “Love is stronger than fear” and “Putin is a killer.”
Alexander Nemenov / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
A mourner holds up a photo of Navalny and his widow, Yulia, with the words “Eternal love never dies” taped onto it.
AP / Scanpix / LETA
A mourner holding a sign that says “Navalny was killed.”
Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
A crowd heading toward Borisovskoye Cemetery. In the morning, photos appeared that said the cemetery would be closed to visitors. Cemetery workers said this information was incorrect, and that it would be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
Navalny’s parents, Lyudmila and Anatoly, at his grave. Police can be seen on the roof of the apartment building in the background.
Olga Maltseva / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
AFP / Scanpix / LETA
AFP / Scanpix / LETA
AP / Scanpix / LETA
A mourner in a tree holds a sign outside the cemetery that says “Putin killed him but didn’t break him.”
Olga Maltseva / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
Notes at a memorial read “Alexey, thank you for everything” and “Alyosha [nickname for Alexey], you’re our light!”
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Georgy Guzovsky / Meduza
Mourners light candles at a makeshift memorial outside the cemetery. “Navalny” is written in flowers around the memorial.
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Translation by Sasha Slobodov