And the funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny ended
just a short time ago in Moscow.
Large crowds were gathered at the church there,
with many chanting the name of the fallen leader as
his coffin arrived.
The funeral took place amid heightened tensions surrounding Navalny's death,
with allies accusing Russian authorities of trying to prevent people
from paying their respects to Vladimir Putin's most potent critic,
AB CS Patrick Rivall is in Ukraine covering that story
for us.
Patrick, can you set this scene for us?
Because we know Russian officials were putting a lot of
pressure.
On Navalny's families and allies before this funeral,
so now that it happened.
Does it seem like everything went as planned?
Hi, Dan. Yeah, I mean,
just a short while ago,
Alexei Navalny's body was lowered into a grave.
A ceremony took place in a church a little not
far away in southern Moscow.
And thousands of people, as you say,
did defy police and come out and try and pay
respects.
And we saw really, really long lines of people waiting
to try and get into the church to file past
his coffin.
I mean, the videos that we've seen just show lines
going on and on and on of people waiting.
And as you say, there was intense security.
I mean, there was security barriers all around the church.
And very heavy police presence.
It reminded me, I have to say,
of when we used to cover Navalny's protests when he
was alive and when police would basically seal off areas
of Moscow.
But they did allow people to pay some respects.
The service was short. I mean,
it should be said that there are still thousands of
people in Moscow and in other cities.
Continuing to walk together and to carrying flowers,
but also chanting things like no to war,
meaning no to the war here in Ukraine.
Also simply chanting his name,
which is an act of defiance in Russia and where
Vladimir Putin famously refuses to say Navalny's name,
but he has now been laid to rest.
We'll see if people try to lay flowers at his
grave and if authorities allow that to happen.
You know, his mother was able to be there,
but his wife and two children were not because they
are in exile.
And if they were to return to Russia,
they would face arrest. And so,
of course, this is a huge day for Russia because
ultimately this was a man who for many Russians came
to represent.
A freer, more democratic Russia,
and he has now been laid to rest.
Diane.
Patrick Revill for us. Thank you,
Patrick.