A human tide, like those that Alexéi Navalni gathered in his famous anti -government protests, challenged the fear to pay a public tribute to his hero, whose death in prison is fulfilled this Sunday exactly one year.
“For my Navalni he is a hero. And a true patriot,” 25, 25, told Efe Antón, at the exit of the Borísovskoe cemetery, one of the oldest in the Russian capital, where the remains of the Russian politician lie.
Personal duel
Antón is convinced that Navalni’s cause will survive, but saddled because “evil has become a little stronger” after his death. At the same time, the young man insists that the opponent “was killed” and did not die for natural causes, as the official version maintains.
“But no matter how strong the evil is, it will not beat good, we know very well,” he says visibly excited. In Borísovskoe today you could see people of different ages, older, young people and families with children.
As the day progressed, the amount of the Muscovites who approached the field, so that many had to endure a long wait in the cold to finally approach the tomb of their idol.
“It’s an irreparable loss. I wish I had a son like him,” a pensioner told Efe at the exit of cemetery.
Flowers and messages for Navalni
From the early hours of the morning, the politician’s tomb began to cover flows and messages from his followers.
“I am not afraid and you do not have it either,” said a sign next to Navalni’s photo, alluding to a phrase that often said the politic corruption in the high spheres of power.
Other messages left by their followers said “time does not cure the wounds, we miss you,” “His heart was beating for all of us,” “We will run your marathon.”
Tributes to the memory of the opponent also took place today in tens of other Russian cities, as well as some world capitals.
Where concentrations could not be organized for fear of reprisals, Navalni followers chose to bring flowers and candles to monuments to victims of political repressions in the USSR.
One year of pain
Navalni’s death at 47 in an Arctic prison remains a trauma for his followers, who saw him as the only figure capable of leading democratic changes in Russia.
“The pain we feel has made us stronger and this year has shown that we are stronger than we think,” said the opponent’s widow, Yulia Naválnaya, in a video broadcast this Sunday.
Navalnaya said that even after his death Navalni continues his fight against Kremlin, since his ideas live and his speeches are cited by world and famous politicians.
“I feel the same as a year ago. It’s as if time had not happened. I don’t know when I will make peace with that,” a middle -aged woman told Efe in tears, who preferred not to give her name.
Meanwhile, a 17 -year -old girl recognizes at the exit of the Borísovskoe cemetery that Navalni was an example for her generation, a person who were “proud” and who wanted to look like many young people.
The family has no doubt
A year after the death of the outstanding opponent, his family, the opposition and the Western Chancellors continue to accuse the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to be behind what happened on February 16, 2024 in the IK-3 penitentiary of the Arctic town of JARP (Yamalo-Nénets Autonomous District).
The official version made public last August is that Navalni – which had been transferred two months before the Arctic – died for natural causes, due to arrhythmia. Others ensure that the long stays in punishment cells is what ended the life of the opponent.
In his defense, Putin says he authorized the exchange of his greatest adversary, but that he died suddenly between bars before the exchange was consummated.
But the family has no doubt. “We know who commissioned (the murder), but we also want to know who executed it,” the mother of the late opposition, Navalnaya Liudmila, told reporters today.
