Alexei Navalny funeral: Family of Putin arch-nemesis gather to say goodbye in Moscow
Putin arch-nemesis Alexei Navalny is laid to rest at a Moscow church on Friday, March 1, following says of pleading by the family to get his body from the Russian government.
The family of Putin arch-nemesis Alexei Navalny gathered Friday for his funeral in Moscow, weeks after his mysterious death.
Hundreds of mourners lined up around a temple where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's body would be laid to rest and broke out into chants of "Navalny! Navalny!" as the coffin was being carried inside.
The funeral comes days after Navalny's body was ultimately turned over to the custody of the family.
Spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh confirmed Navalny's body has been turned over by the Russian government after days of pleading from Lyudmila Navalnaya, the late activist's mother.
"Alexey's body was handed over to his mother," Yarmysh said Saturday. "Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us. Lyudmila Ivanovna is still in Salekhard."
The opposition leader was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Russia’s brutal ‘Polar Wolf’ prison. Prison officials say Navalny died on Feb. 16 of "sudden death syndrome" after collapsing following a walk.
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