Funeral homes refuse to stage Navalny ceremony
An ally of Alexei Navalny has urged Russians to turn out in large numbers next month to protest in his memory.
The late opposition leader, a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin, had called for demonstrations on election day, 17 March, shortly before his death.
Mr. Navalny died while imprisoned at the "Polar Wolf" penal colony north of the Arctic Circle. His team states that they are encountering several refusals from multiple venues in Russia to host Mr. Navalny's farewell ceremony.
According to his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, some venues claim their space is occupied, while others refuse to mention Mr. Navalny's name.
Leonid Volkov stated that the protest call was "Navalny's direct political testament," and the final call to action that he issued.
"Now this is no longer just a political action aimed at overcoming political loneliness and isolation. Now this is a rally of mourning and a civic memorial, an action in memory of Navalny, who asked us to hold it," he said.
Mr. Volkov urged people to defy fears of arrest and "fulfill the last will of Alexei Navalny."
The Kremlin warned of legal consequences for anyone who heeded what it called a provocative call from individuals it has labeled as dangerous US-backed extremists.
President Putin is poised to win a new six-year term in the election. Two anti-war candidates have been disqualified on technical grounds, and none of the remaining three candidates is critical of the president.
On Monday, an ally of Mr. Navalny claimed he was set to be freed as part of a prisoner swap before his death.
This comes after a Moscow court jailed a human rights advocate who spoke out against the war in Ukraine.
Oleg Orlov, 70, was convicted of "repeatedly discrediting" the Russian army in an article he wrote denouncing the invasion. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. He has rejected the case against him as politically motivated.
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