Thousands of Russian mourners continue to line street to pay tribute to ‘murdered’ Alexei Navalny after Putin rival’s funeral

Thousands of people still line the streets of Moscow to pay their respects to Alexei Navalny, the outspoken dissident allegedly killed by the Russian state last month.

Navalny died on February 16 in the penal colony IK-3, also known as Polar Wolf, in the Kharp settlement in Russia’s Yamal-Nenets region, about 2,000 kilometers from Moscow.

His funeral service took place on Friday at Soothe My Sorrows Church in Moscow, where his family held an open-casket funeral for his loved ones and his closest followers.

Under a heavy police presence, Mr. Navalny’s mother, Lyudmilla Navalnaya, was accompanied by his mother-in-law, Alla Abrosimova, who, along with other mourners, said a final farewell to Mr. Navalny.

But more than 48 hours later, thousands are still taking to the streets of Moscow to pay their respects to the dead dissident.

Defiant mourners have braved the wrath of the Russian state, which has arrested nearly 70 people across Russia for daring to mourn the loss of the opposition figure.

Arrests took place “in sixteen cities” across Russia, including six in Moscow, where the funeral of Vladimir Putin’s most feared critic took place.

The ceremony took place amid a heavy police presence as thousands defied the president’s warnings and descended on the capital.

According to OVD-Info, about 18 people were detained in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk alone.

Arrests are also believed to have been made in the cities of Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk in central Russia.

Mourners following the hearse in Moscow threw red carnations as it passed and were heard shouting: “Putin is a murderer” and “Russia will be free.”

There were also unconfirmed reports that Navalny supporters were arrested as they left their homes to attend the funeral.

It is believed that one of those arrested during the ceremony was an opposition politician.

The Kremlin had warned that action would be taken against any “unauthorized protests” on the day of Navalny’s funeral, with 400 people arrested for laying flowers at memorial sites following the outspoken politician’s death two weeks ago.

Riot police, wearing balaclavas, lined the streets around the Russian Orthodox Church and police snipers could be seen on rooftops near the scene.

Amid a heavy police presence, a long queue formed outside the church in the south-east of the capital, with reports saying thousands were in attendance.

One person said: ‘I think this is a funeral for the Russia that could have been.’

As the coffin was carried from a black hearse into the church, loud chants of “Navalny, Navalny!” sounded around the square outside.

Although details of those present were not known, the French, German and American ambassadors were in the crowd, as well as some of Russia’s last free independent politicians.

The international community was quick to condemn Alexei Navalny’s death, with many countries suspecting or even outright accusing Vladimir Putin of orchestrating his death.

Canada today announced a new set of sanctions against Russia over the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The latest sanctions will target six Russian officials, including senior officials and senior employees of Russia’s prosecutorial, judicial and correctional services, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.

Canada’s sanctions follow those of Britain and the US, both of which imposed tough sanctions on Russia.

The US announced more than 500 new sanctions against key parts of the Russian economy, including the main card payment system, financial and military institutions and officials involved in Navalny’s capture.

Britain, meanwhile, has introduced more than 50 new sanctions aimed at eliminating Russia’s war machine, focusing on suppliers of rocket launchers, rockets and explosives.

Britain has also imposed sanctions on six Russian prison bosses responsible for the Polar Wolf penal colony.