Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny commemorated in Rome

During the memorial ceremony held in the evening at the historic Campidoglio Square, where the Rome City Hall is also located, a photograph of Navalny was projected onto the municipal building, and his photographs were placed in the square.

At the ceremony, which was attended by approximately 1,000 people, many lit candles, while some left flowers they had brought in front of the photograph of Navalny in the square.

MANY POLITICIANS ATTENDED THE COMMEMORATION

The ceremony, hosted by Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, was attended by Minister of Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi on behalf of the right-wing coalition government, Elly Schlein, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (PD), Carlo Calenda, leader of the opposition Action Party, as well as numerous other politicians and approximately 30 ambassadors from different countries.

In his speech, Mayor Gualtieri sent a message to Navalny's family and loved ones, saying "you are not alone," and added, "No one who loves the values of freedom and democracy can accept this death in silence."

Meanwhile, some citizens attending the commemoration reacted to the representatives of the League Party, a partner in the right-wing government that once had close relations with Russia and whose name has appeared in some investigations for this reason, by shouting "Shame on you" as they arrived at the ceremony.

On the other hand, some members of the Rome City Council brought up a proposal today to rename Via Gaeta Street in the capital, where the Russian Embassy is located, to "Alexei Navalny Street."

NAVALNY'S IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH

Navalny, an opponent of the Kremlin, was arrested at the airport upon his return to Moscow on January 17, 2021, after receiving treatment in Berlin, the capital of Germany, following an alleged poisoning.

Upon the request of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, the case filed against Navalny at the Moscow City Court concluded on February 2, 2021, and his 3.5-year suspended sentence from a previous corruption case was converted into a regular prison sentence on the grounds that he had not fulfilled the conditions of judicial control.

In August 2023, a Russian court sentenced Navalny, who was already in prison, to 19 years in prison for establishing an extremist community.

The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) reported on February 16 that opposition figure Navalny had died in the prison where he was being held as an inmate.

News Source: AA