A HERO’S BURIAL.. AS MY WAY PLAYS
Supporters defy cops to protest at Navalny’s funeral
THOUSANDS of mourners defied riot police and chanted Alexei Navalny’s name as the icon of Russia’s opposition was laid to rest yesterday.
His coffin was lowered to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s My Way, almost two weeks after he died in a Siberian prison.
Navalny’s family and other supporters blame tyrannical President Vladimir Putin for his death at the age of 47.
Widow Yulia Navalnaya is in self-imposed exile and had to watch her husband’s funeral by video link. The 47-year-old wrote online: “I don’t know how to live without you. Thank you for 26 years of happiness.
“For love, for always supporting me, for making me laugh even from prison, for the fact that you always thought about me.
“I will try to make you up there happy for me and proud of me.
“I don’t know if I can handle it or not, but I will try.”
Navalny’s 23-year-old daughter, Daria, also shared a tribute to her father. On Instagram, she wrote:
“Ever since I was a child, you taught me to live by certain principles. To live with dignity. You gave your life for me, for mum, for [my brother] Zakhar, for Russia.
“I promise you that I will live my life in the way that you taught me, in a way that will make you proud – and most importantly, with a smile on my face.”
Supporters applauded as Navalny’s coffin arrived at the Quench My Sorrows church in the Maryino district of Moscow. They then defied a heavy police presence to chant anti-war slogans as they walked to Borisovkoye cemetery. At least 45 people were arrested. Some supporters chanted “Alexei, Alexei” while others declared: “You weren’t afraid, neither are we!”
Navalny died on February 16 after years of fighting Kremlin corruption. Kira Yarmysh, spokeswoman for Navalny’s team, said at least one funeral director had been forbidden to work with his supporters. She said: “Unknown people are calling up and threatening them not to take Alexei’s body.”
@defence
chris
I will try to make you proud of me – I don’t know if I can handle it, but I will try
YULIA NAVALNAYA PAYS TRIBUTE TO HER LATE HUSBAND