At this time, the funeral of Alexei Navalny is taking place in the church of the Icon of the Mother of God in the Mariino district of Moscowtwo weeks after his sudden death at the age of 47in a prisoner colony in the Arctic.

Thousands of Russian citizens line the route of the Russian opposition leader’s body and outside the churchthey bid farewell to Navalny with tears in their eyes, throwing flowers and rhythmically chanting his name.

According to WP, several Western ambassadors, including US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy as well as France, Germany and Australia, also came to pay their respects to the deceased.

Strong police forces have set up metal barricades around the church and patrol with guns in hand.

All international media are broadcasting live from the point.

Kira Jarmis, representative of the Navalny family mentioned earlier that about 400,000 people have lined the streets, along the route to the church.

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After the funeral, Navalny will be buried at the Borisovskoye cemeterywhich is located on the other bank of the Moskhova River, towards the south.

Navalny

The entire route between the church and the cemetery has been blocked with barricades by the police.

Hundreds of police officers they have been sprayed on house roofs as the Russian authorities fear that the funeral may take the form of a large one anti-government demonstration.​

Navalny

The representative of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov in a teleconference with journalists, warned the Russians not to participate in “unauthorized gatherings”as well as that those who participate in them “will be held accountable according to applicable law.”

Navalny

Navalny’s allies have said that the ceremony will be open to the public, despite pressure from the authorities for a “private” funeral.

Earlier, his associates had stated that they could not find hearses to take the body to the church.