Hundreds of Russians gathered on Sunday at the Borisovsky Cemetery in Moscow to honour Alexei Navalny, the foremost opponent of President Putin.
Navalny died exactly one year ago in a penal camp in the polar north of Russia. Since early morning, the politician’s grave has been covered with flowers and messages. Despite the freezing temperatures – around -10°C – visitors continue to arrive, including families with children.
A sign next to Navalny’s photo reads, “I am not afraid, and neither should you be.” Another message from his followers states, “Time does not heal wounds, we miss you.” There is a significant police presence at the cemetery, but the commemoration is peaceful.
Navalny died on 16 January 2024 at the age of 47 under suspicious circumstances. He had been imprisoned in various penal camps for several years. His family, the Russian opposition, and Western leaders accuse the Kremlin of being responsible for his death. Officially, he died from cardiac arrhythmia.
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Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, released a video message on Sunday. “The pain we feel has made us stronger, and this year has shown that we are stronger than we think,” she said.
She mentioned that Navalny continues his fight against the Kremlin even after his death, as his ideas live on and his speeches are quoted by world-famous politicians. “Alexei continues to unite people, even after his death, and he keeps helping them. I know this will remain true in the future.”
