The widow of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was buried in Moscow on Friday, has published a video clip with striking scenes from their life together in a moving farewell to her husband.
She will always love Alexei, 47-year-old Yulia Navalnaya wrote on Instagram on Friday. The clip featured many scenes from their life together set to the song "Khochesh" (Do you want?) by Russian singer Zemfira.
In the post, Navalnaya wrote: "Lyosha, thank you for 26 years of absolute happiness. Yes, even for the last three years of happiness. For the love, for always supporting me, for making me laugh even from prison, for always thinking of me."
Lyosha is the Russian diminutive of the name Alexei. He had spent the last three years in prison. He died in the prison camp on February 16 and was buried in Moscow on Friday.
Navalnaya, daughter Daria and son Zakhar were not in Moscow for the funeral - for security reasons. The widow had accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of Navalny's murder and must expect to be arrested if she returned to her homeland. She has also announced that she will continue her husband's political fight against Putin.
Navalnaya went on to write: "I don't know how to live without you, but I will do my best to make you happy for me up there and proud of me."
"I have so many untold stories for you, and I have so many songs saved on my phone for you, silly and funny - and generally, honestly, terrible songs - but they're about us, and I wanted so much for you to listen to them.
"And I wanted so much to see you listen to them and laugh and then hug me.
"I will always love you. Rest in peace."
According to the authorities, Navalny died on February 16 in the prison camp unofficially named "Polar Wolf" in the Siberian Arctic region of Yamal. The circumstances of his death have not been clarified.
The politician, weakened by a poison attack in 2020 and repeated solitary confinement in the camp, is said to have collapsed during a tour of the icy prison yard and died despite attempts at resuscitation. According to Navalny's team, the death certificate mentions "natural" causes.
