What we know
- The funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been held this morning in Moscow, an event seen by many as representing a struggle between the country's marginalized protest movement and President Vladimir Putin's will to silence it.
- Thousands of mourners defied heavy security to greet Navalny's coffin with applause and chants at the church and cemetery where he was buried. Allies of the Putin critic accused the Kremlin of trying to derail the event, saying they struggled to secure a venue and find a hearse willing to carry his body.
- Navalny, 47, died last month in an Arctic penal colony. His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, paid tribute to her late husband this morning and thanked him for "26 years of absolute happiness." She has pointed the finger at Putin for his death, but the Kremlin has denied the accusations. A deal to free Navalny was in the works, and his allies have said the timing was no coincidence.
- The funeral was live-streamed, allowing those outside Russia who saw hope in Navalny's struggle to follow the event online. A number of foreign diplomats, including the U.S. ambassador, were seen at the event.
Thousands turn out to mourn Navalny, defying Putin, at funeral in Moscow
For one day at least, Russia’s opposition came alive to mourn its lost leader.
The funeral of Alexei Navalny on Friday almost did not happen at all. But thousands ultimately turned out — braving the snow, heavy security and weeks of Kremlin efforts to derail the event — so that they could pay their respects to the man who challenged President Vladimir Putin with a vision for a democratic Russia.
Bearing flowers, candles and placards, the crowd chanted Navalny’s name as his body was first delivered to a church in southern Moscow for a brief funeral and then to a nearby cemetery.
There were also riskier words uttered in a country where the state crushes even modest displays of dissent. “Russia without Putin!” “Russia will be free!” and even “Putin is a murderer!” were all audible cries from the clamorous masses.
After a short funeral service, the coffin of Alexei Navalny was taken from the Soothe My Sorrows church to the nearby Borisovskoye Cemetery for burial.
Mourners, including his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, placed red and while flowers on top of his open casket.
Dozens have been detained so far on the day of Navalny's funeral, human rights group says
A counter at the website of the human rights group OVD Info says that 67 people have been detained so far in 16 locations across Russia, including Moscow, Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. The numbers are expected to increase.
The Kremlin has attempted to stifle displays of grief for Navalny. The weekend following his death on Feb. 16, more than 400 people were arrested for laying flowers and paying tribute at memorials nationwide.
Before Navalny's funeral, Putin issued a nuclear warning to the West
The Russian president stepped up his threats against Western countries yesterday, warning that they risk global nuclear war if they send their own troops into Ukraine.
Putin issued the threat at the top of his annual state of the nation address, ahead of a presidential election next month that he is certain to win. He spoke for more than two hours to Russia’s Federal Assembly at Moscow’s vast and grand Gostiny Dvor conference center, a stone’s throw from the Kremlin, surrounded by typically tight security with the surrounding streets cordoned off.
Putin covered an array of topics, from Russia’s low birthrate to its need for better broadband coverage. But top of the agenda ahead of Navalny's funeral was his warning against deepening Western involvement in Ukraine.
A tale of two funerals: Before Navalny, ex-Soviet leader was laid to rest under similar security
It is difficult to understate the risk taken by every single Russian who gathered for the funeral today.
The Kremlin signaled that unsanctioned gatherings would be dealt with to the letter of the law. And the law is harsh.
Watching the event, one may recall the funeral of late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who died about six months after Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Gorbachev and Navalny were very different figures in many ways, but by the time of Gorbachev’s death, the Russian regime wasn’t much fonder of the former Soviet leader. Putin himself snubbed Gorbachev's funeral, and the police presence in central Moscow on that day was also heavy. Yet, thousands of people came out to show their respects then as they did today.
In its way, Gorbachev’s funeral was an early sign of just how much progress has been undone by Putin’s war against Ukraine. Navalny’s funeral holds similar significance.
Whereas Gorbachev’s funeral was allowed to be held at a prime venue in the heart of the capital, not all that far from the Kremlin, Navalny’s family has been offered no such courtesy. The church and cemetery where today’s events took place were on near-total lockdown, with very little space left for mourners to gather. But mourners packed those spaces nonetheless.
Voices from Navalny's funeral: 'I came here to say goodbye'
“I came here to say goodbye to Navalny. What does that mean for me? I don’t even know how to explain it,” said a 25-year-old man who gave his name as Kirill.
“It’s very sad for the future of Russia ... We won’t give up, we will believe in something better.”
A young woman, Kamila, said: “There are more than 10,000 people here, and no one is afraid ... We came here in order to honor the memory of a man who also wasn’t afraid, who wasn’t afraid of anything.”
A deal to free Navalny was in the works before his death
If the Kremlin did kill Navalny, why now?
The Russian opposition leader’s allies offered their answer to the question that has hung over his death, alleging that Putin had the jailed dissident killed to thwart an imminent prisoner swap that would have freed him — and two Americans.
Five sources told NBC News that a deal to free Navalny was in the works, although the swap was not thought to be imminent when his death was announced Feb. 16. Two of those sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, said the mooted deal would have included reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.
Two U.S. officials said that Washington had not directly discussed the idea with Moscow. One said that Putin may have found out that it was under discussion by U.S. and German officials.
Which opposition figures attended the funeral?
Thousands of people paid their respects to Navalny today, despite having every reason not to.
They were joined by a few famous opposition figures — the few who remain free in Russia. Among them is Boris Nadezhdin, a politician who was recently barred from standing against Putin in this month’s presidential election on an opposition platform.
Another notable figure in attendance was Yevgeny Roizman, the former opposition-minded mayor of Yekaterinburg. Roizman was once seen as the most likely figure remaining in Russia around whom an anti-war movement might coalesce. He has been charged with violating military censorship laws, and supporting an extremist organization (Navalny’s group), but has not yet been sentenced to any jail time.
Also attending were the families of slain or imprisoned opposition figures, including relatives of Ilya Yashin — a close ally of Navalny who is currently in prison himself.
There is no one else left from Russia's opposition leadership to attend.
Scenes from the cemetery as Navalny was buried
After Navalny's coffin was carried to the entrance of the Borisovskoye Cemetery in Moscow, his parents and others watched as the Russian opposition leader was lowered into the ground.
U.S. pays tribute to Navalny: 'A shining example of what Russia could & should be'
The U.S. Embassy in Russia has paid tribute to Navalny in a statement marking his burial today.
"Alexey Navalny remains a shining example of what Russia could & should be," it said.
"His death is a tragic reminder of the lengths the Kremlin will go to silence its critics. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, supporters, & all those he has inspired to work for a brighter future."