Amid Threats and Blackmailing: Human Rights Situation in Russia Worsens

A bunch of flowers that are sitting on the ground for Alexei Navalny, by Nikita Pishchugin. Unsplash 2024

Russian authorities continue to impose restrictions on Aleksey Navalny’s commemoration, denying his family a dignified farewell and delaying closure. During a meeting with Yulia Navalnaya, UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticised these obstructions and emphasised Navalny’s significance in Russia’s pro-democracy movement.

Moscow (Russia) — Fifteen days after Alexei Navalny’s death in the Arctic ‘polar wolf’ colony, Russian authorities continue to obstruct efforts for a public funeral. On Wednesday, after his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, announced that the memorial would take place on March 1st at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow, reports emerged that hearse drivers were being threatened by unidentified individuals, warning them not to transport  Navalny’s body. These developments follow previous reports that Russian authorities exerted pressure on Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, regarding the conditions, timing, and location of her son’s commemoration. According to her account, authorities initially agreed to release the body only on the condition that the burial remained secret.

Although the Kremlin ultimately conceded to handing over Navalny’s remains, his associates reported encountering widespread refusal from funeral agencies when attempting to organise a public farewell. Several venues allegedly ended discussions upon hearing Navalny’s name, others cited unavailability, and at least one openly admitted to being prohibited from working with his supporters.

These occurrences coincide with the brief detention of Vasily Dobkov, Navalny’s lawyer, on charges of  “violating public order,” as well as the ongoing suppression of calls for an independent, international investigation into Navalny’s death. The deteriorating state of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Russia has drawn increasing international concern, to the point that, on February 28th, the whole deal was deplored by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a meeting with Yulia Navalnaya. Additionally, Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pejčinović Burić emphasised that Navalny’s death must be examined in light of the severe human rights violations he endured throughout his life, including the 2020 poisoning attempt that was never fully investigated, arbitrary detention, and inhumane and degrading treatment.

Acknowledging Navalny’s role as Russia’s most prominent opposition figure and advocate for democracy in a deeply repressive and draconian system, Guterres concluded the meeting by recognising his courage and legacy.

Sources and further reading:

Dixon, R. (February 24, 2024), “Russian authorities hand Navalny’s body to mother for burial”. The Washington Post. Retrieved on February 24, 2024, from:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/24/alexei-navalny-body-russia-burial/.

Gigova, R. (March 1, 2024), “Hearse drivers refuse to take Navalny’s body to Moscow funeral, Putin critic’s team say”. The CNN. Retrieved on January 1, 2024, from:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/29/europe/russia-navalny-funeral-hearse-intl?cid=ios_app.

Gray, A. (February 20, 2024), “EU summons Russian envoy, demands independent investigation into Navalny’s death”. The Reuteurs. Retrieved on February 28, 2024, from:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-summons-russian-envoy-demands-independent-investigation-into-navalnys-death-2024-02-20/.

Sauer, P. (February 24, 2024), “Alexei Navalny’s body given to mother by Russian authorities”. The Guardian. Retrieved on February 27, 202, from:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/24/alexei-navalny-body-given-to-mother-by-russian-authorities.

Vock, I. (February 28, 2024), “Alexei Navalny: Opposition leader’s lawyer briefly held in Moscow – reports”. The BBC. Retrieved on February 28, 2024, from:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68418193.

(February 28, 2024), “Funeral of Kremlin critic Navalny to be held in Moscow on Friday”. The Aljazeera. Retrieved on January 1, 2024, from:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/28/funeral-of-kremlin-critic-navalny-to-be-held-in-moscow-on-friday.

(February 28, 2024), “Secretary General meets Yulia Navalnaya”. The Council of Europe. Retrieved on February 29, 2024, from:
https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/secretary-general-meets-yulia-navalnaya-at-the-council-of-europe.

(February 27, 2024), “Navalny associates face problems Finding Locations to Bid Farewell to Kremlin Critic”. Radio Free Europe – Radio Liberty. Retrieved on February 27, 2024, from:

https://www.rferl.org/a/navalny-funeral-location-problems-secret-burial/32837262.html.