Russian authorities are trying to prevent a public funeral for opposition leader Alexey Navalny because they are “afraid” that too many people will want to attend, the head of investigations at Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, Maria Pevchikh, said on Friday.
“They are trying to avoid a ceremony or a church sermon where people can physically approach the coffin, lay flowers and say goodbye – that is what they are so afraid of,” Pevchikh said during a live interview.
“Many people, within their rights, will want to say goodbye to Alexei and look at him for the last time. And Putin is trying to avoid this,” Pevchikh said. “He sees this as a kind of demonstration, a political turmoil that he doesn't need right now. He doesn’t want to see that on TV.”
Pevchikh also said that although Navalny's mother is in the city of Salekhard – which is close to the penal colony where Navalny was arrested and died – with her lawyer, she has to speak alone with investigators.
“Every day they come up with new ideas to blackmail her,” Pevchikh said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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