Hearse drivers refused to take the body of Alexei Navalny to his funeral

Borisov Cemetery in Moscow, where Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a prisoner of war camp, will be buried. Photo: REUTERS

The family of Alexei Navalny, the murdered Russian opposition figure, have been told that no hearse driver is willing to take his body to a funeral service the day before he is due to be buried.

Mr Navalny Representative said on Thursday that less than 24 hours before the funeral, all funeral homes refused to work with Navalny's family after receiving threatening phone calls.

“Funeral homes tell us that not a single hearse died. agreed to take the body [to the church],” says Kira Yarmysh’s statement.

“All hearse drivers receive anonymous calls threatening not to take Alexei’s body anywhere.”

Russia’s most popular opposition leader died in prison under unclear circumstances in February.

Alexei Navalny and his widow Yulia

Prison authorities and investigators refused to release the body for more than nine days and tried to force the family to conduct a secret burial. Thousands of Russians bring flowers to temporary memorials across the country.

Last Saturday, Navalny's mother finally received the body of her 47-year-old son.

Church of the Icon of the Mother of God, where a service in honor of Alexei Navalny was supposed to take place on Thursday. Photo: REUTERS

A close associate of the politician said all arrangements had already been made when the family received a call from the chosen funeral home earlier on Thursday saying its drivers were refusing to collect the body.

“We started looking at other options — it soon became clear that All [drivers] were called and told not to do this,” said Leonid Volkov. “This is real madness.”

No funeral venue in Moscow agreed to hold a farewell ceremony, forcing the family to opt for a church next door to Mr Navalny, where his body would be prepared for burial under Orthodox Christian law. Christian tradition.

Photo of Alexei Navalny at a makeshift memorial in Frankfurt, West Germany, on Thursday Photo: AFP

Allies of Mr. Navalny invited Russians to come to church on Thursday afternoon and two hours later to a cemetery in a nearby area.

His supporters were also invited to lay flowers at monuments to victims of Soviet rule. political repression in cities across Russia.

Increased security was reported Thursday around the Borisov Cemetery in Moscow, and metal barriers were seen near two metro stations nearby.