Thousands Gather At Moscow Church For Navalny's Funeral

Thousands of mourners gathered outside the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow on March 1 to bid farewell to anti-corruption crusader Aleksei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison under mysterious circumstances.

Navalny's coffin is carried to the church.

Navalny's parents, Lyudmila Navalnaya and Anatoly Navalny, arrive for the funeral ceremony.

Pallbearers carry the coffin as mourners look on. 

The ceremony took place in the Moscow district of Maryino, where Navalny used to live, according to his former spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh.

Security was tight at the funeral, with police officers positioned on an apartment building roof near the church.

Mourners pay tribute to Navalny outside the church.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy arrives at the church before the funeral service.

Family and friends gathered around Navalny's open casket. The general public was not allowed to file past the coffin, which is the custom at large Orthodox funerals.

Navalny will be buried in nearby Borisovskoye cemetery.

An aerial view of Borisovskoye cemetery