outside the doors of the church —— and there is a heavy presence of police and guards. suggestions that any delay by any photography or images from inside the church is banned. i willjust come back to you in a moment, olga buti banned. i willjust come back to you in a moment, olga but i willjust get the latest from euro, vitaly. the latest we have from alex navarro and the�*s team and associates, they still do not know what is happening inside that church —— alexei navalny�*s team. there has also been a planned shared of the cemetery where his body is to be laid to rest later today. apparently the grave is located right next to the entrance. it would be relatively easy to find and presumably this would make it easier for and presumably this would make it easierfor his and presumably this would make it easier for his supporters who have gathered in moscow today to come and pay their final respects to the late

russian opposition leader. let’s pay their final respects to the late russian opposition leader. let's go back to olga _ russian opposition leader. let's go back to olga now, _ russian opposition leader. let's go back to olga now, and _ russian opposition leader. let's go back to olga now, and i _ russian opposition leader. let's go back to olga now, and ijust - russian opposition leader. let's go| back to olga now, and ijust wanted to ask you, as vitaly mentioned, the grave is quite near the entrance because a lot of this is about how close or how much of a focal point this can be for potential supporters of mr navalny and we are just hearing some of the chanting there now. tell me a little bit, olga, about the atmosphere and what the feeling is like among russians in terms of the legacy mr navalny has left behind. , , ., , terms of the legacy mr navalny has left behind. , , ., ._ ., left behind. definitely today, from what peeple _ left behind. definitely today, from what people were _ left behind. definitely today, from what people were saying, - left behind. definitely today, from what people were saying, those i what people were saying, those people — what people were saying, those people gathered near that cemetery and knew _ people gathered near that cemetery and knew that church in moscow, it was quite _ and knew that church in moscow, it was quite a — and knew that church in moscow, it was quite a sombre mood, and we have seen pictures— was quite a sombre mood, and we have seen pictures that dozens and dozens of people _ seen pictures that dozens and dozens of people are just in complete silence, — of people are just in complete silence, getting off the trains with

flowers. _ silence, getting off the trains with flowers, leaving the metro station and heading towards the cemetery. from _ and heading towards the cemetery. from what— and heading towards the cemetery. from what people are saying, it's a sombre _ from what people are saying, it's a sombre mood, but of course we understand those people, especially those _ understand those people, especially those who have agreed to talk on camera, — those who have agreed to talk on camera, they have to be cautious, they have — camera, they have to be cautious, they have to— camera, they have to be cautious, they have to be reserved. but from they have to be reserved. but from the fact _ they have to be reserved. but from the fact that there where these self—made memorials sprinkled all over russia following alexei navalny's death, it shows his legacy remains _ navalny's death, it shows his legacy remains remembered and people are not only— remains remembered and people are not only remembering but taking some relative _ not only remembering but taking some relative recent steps to publicly show _ relative recent steps to publicly show support for the cause. the trouble — show support for the cause. the trouble is, — show support for the cause. the trouble is, as vitaly already mentioned, in this organisation it is self— mentioned, in this organisation it is self organising because all the closest _ is self organising because all the closest allies of navalny, or the leaders — closest allies of navalny, or the leaders of— closest allies of navalny, or the leaders of his movement, they are currently— leaders of his movement, they are currently outside of russia. for people — currently outside of russia. for people who remain in russia it would be incredibly hard to organise and

try to _ be incredibly hard to organise and try to rebuild the organisation which — try to rebuild the organisation which alexei managed to build over russia _ which alexei managed to build over russia. rhys it is a double—edged sword _ russia. rhys it is a double—edged sword at — russia. rhys it is a double—edged sword at the moment. and russia. rhys it is a double-edged sword at the moment.— sword at the moment. and from outside russia _ sword at the moment. and from outside russia there _ sword at the moment. and from outside russia there is - sword at the moment. and from outside russia there is also - sword at the moment. and from l outside russia there is also alexei navalny's youtube team —— so it is a double—edged sword at the moment. they are running a youtube channel and you are seeing on your screen images from that youtube channel so thatis images from that youtube channel so that is something being put out directly by mr navalny's team. just to give you an idea, in the hour before the funeral was due to begin there were already tens of thousands, actually 130,000 viewers on that channel. no doubt more than that now. you can hear some of the clapping there. i want to bring you something that has come in from our bbc russia editor steve rosenberg who is in moscow. i mentioned earlier that crowds were chanting the phrase, you weren't afraid and neither where we, and they were chanting mr navalny's name, but

whatever russia editor is saying, they are also chanting, "no to war", "we will never forget", and the phrase "murderers", so i want to get your thoughts on that, olga, thinking about the huge risk people are taking injust thinking about the huge risk people are taking in just gathering let alone enchanting statements like that? , y alone enchanting statements like that? , , .., that? yes, absolutely. -- chanting statements— that? yes, absolutely. -- chanting statements like _ that? yes, absolutely. -- chanting statements like that. _ that? yes, absolutely. -- chanting statements like that. that - that? yes, absolutely. -- chanting statements like that. that is - statements like that. that is somewhere the police may count... especially _ somewhere the police may count... especially if — somewhere the police may count... especially if the slogans go against the kremlin's current narrative, the special— the kremlin's current narrative, the special operation, not even call a war~ _ special operation, not even call a war~ i_ special operation, not even call a war~ ithink— special operation, not even call a war. i think and i am quite sure nothing — war. i think and i am quite sure nothing will _ war. i think and i am quite sure nothing will be done by the police unless— nothing will be done by the police unless they get an order from above and there _ unless they get an order from above and there is— unless they get an order from above and there is no chance of knowing when _ and there is no chance of knowing when this— and there is no chance of knowing when this comes. i guess they will try to _ when this comes. i guess they will try to make — when this comes. i guess they will try to make it more subtle. from my

previous— try to make it more subtle. from my previous experience, because i have covered _ previous experience, because i have covered closely many of those rallies — covered closely many of those rallies. they are normally not detaining _ rallies. they are normally not detaining people right there on the spot. _ detaining people right there on the spot. but— detaining people right there on the spot, but they wait for people to leave _ spot, but they wait for people to leave to — spot, but they wait for people to leave to take a side street, and that is— leave to take a side street, and that is when they are ready and detaining — that is when they are ready and detaining them and bringing them to the police _ detaining them and bringing them to the police cells. so they are trying to keep _ the police cells. so they are trying to keep doing it, to detain people, normally, — to keep doing it, to detain people, normally, but they are trying to make _ normally, but they are trying to make it — normally, but they are trying to make it so _ normally, but they are trying to make it so it is not caught on camera _ make it so it is not caught on camera it _ make it so it is not caught on camera. it is quite important for the authorities at the moment. unsurprisingly, given the eyes of the world are on the spot in moscow at the moment, this spot where the funeral of alexei navalny is taking place in that church, in the area in which he and his family lived. what you saw a little earlier was youtube channel footage from mr navalny's team, and there is the entrance to the church there you are seeing.

olga was mentioning it is unlikely police will take action against anyone chanting those political slogans now file they have high visibility —— whilst they have high visibility, but we have the latest update from our bbc russia editor steve rosenberg who is in moscow, saying that police so far are standing by and not taking any action in response to the people in the crowds who are chanting, "no to war," "we will never forget", and the phrase, the word, murderers. you were mentioning earlier, vitaly, how it is unlikely they would make arrests outside the church there, butjust arrests outside the church there, but just tell us what you think the kremlin's next steps will be. i think the steps will be to just ignore what is going on and pretend alexei navalny never happened. so far things have been going

reasonably well for the kremlin, if we are to assure them that president putin wants to stay in control of russia for as long as possible and alexei navalny, he was not a threat to president putin's ever since he was jailed in january 2021. to president putin's ever since he was jailed injanuary 2021. so personally i struggle to see the practical reasons for killing him, if it is true and that is an allegation made by alexei navalny's associates and his family, because vladimir putin is and was for a while very firmly in charge and in control of what is going on in russia. if any arrests are to be made, olga is absolutely right, they will need to be done in a subtle fashion because for a government whose ideology is so firmly rooted

in "traditional values" or conservative values, designed to appeal to orthodox believers, the optics of arresting mourners at a church or at a ceremony, that would not be good for the kremlin so it is not be good for the kremlin so it is not an unreasonable scenario that any arrests that will happen, they will happen outside of the public view. ., , ., ., view. now is a good time to look back at mr _ view. now is a good time to look back at mr navalny's _ view. now is a good time to look back at mr navalny's political - back at mr navalny's political career, really, and look at his legacy. olga, how much of a political challenge has he presented to putin over the years? over the years, alexei has been involved — over the years, alexei has been involved in— over the years, alexei has been involved in the most prominent, most recognisable and i guess the most challenging for the kremlin critic of the _ challenging for the kremlin critic of the russian regime —— he has been

the most _ of the russian regime —— he has been the most prominent. he started with his live _ the most prominent. he started with his live journal, years and years ago. _ his live journal, years and years ago. and — his live journal, years and years ago, and then his political career evolved — ago, and then his political career evolved. he once was a member of one of the _ evolved. he once was a member of one of the russian opposition parties that was— of the russian opposition parties that was excluded, but in recent years— that was excluded, but in recent years i_ that was excluded, but in recent years i think since at least 2012 he has become the main face of russia's opposition, _ has become the main face of russia's opposition, and in recent years he sort of— opposition, and in recent years he sort of reinvented himself, bearing in mind _ sort of reinvented himself, bearing in mind the — sort of reinvented himself, bearing in mind the kremlin was tightly controlling all the main tv channels and newspapers, and navalny started to make _ and newspapers, and navalny started to make really carefully crafted youtube — to make really carefully crafted youtube videos and his channel became — youtube videos and his channel became increasingly popular. some of his investigations about top russian officials _ his investigations about top russian officials and corruption scandals were _ officials and corruption scandals were viewed millions and millions of times, _ were viewed millions and millions of times, and _ were viewed millions and millions of times, and of course this irritated the kremlin a lot. the very fact that— the kremlin a lot. the very fact that he — the kremlin a lot. the very fact that he targeted putin because my

allies— that he targeted putin because my allies of— that he targeted putin because my allies of chris irritated the kremiin— allies of chris irritated the kremlin a lot so definitely in the past 5-7— kremlin a lot so definitely in the past 5—7 years he was the most recognisable —— putin's allies, that irritated _ recognisable —— putin's allies, that irritated the — recognisable —— putin's allies, that irritated the kremlin a lot. that pepularity _ irritated the kremlin a lot. that pepularity is — irritated the kremlin a lot. that popularity is really _ irritated the kremlin a lot. ii�*ué�*ii popularity is really reflected in the huge numbers of people who have gathered outside the church where his funeral is currently taking place. vitaly, do you have an update? place. vitaly, do you have an u date? . . place. vitaly, do you have an u date? ., , ., ., update? the latest we have from outside the _ update? the latest we have from outside the church _ update? the latest we have from outside the church where - update? the latest we have from outside the church where the - update? the latest we have from - outside the church where the service is going on, is about to begin, is that alexei navalny's parents anatoly and liudmila, picture show them entering the church, so we are beginning to have some clarity about who is attending that. alexei navalny's parents are apparently there. . . navalny's parents are apparently there. ., , ., there. that is what we were discussing _ there. that is what we were discussing a _ there. that is what we were discussing a little _ there. that is what we were discussing a little earlier . there. that is what we were discussing a little earlier in | there. that is what we were - discussing a little earlier in terms of who would be allowed into the

church. we heard from his allies in parts of his team, some of them saying they haven't been allowed then, that not everybody was allowed to go through the door so that is quite an interesting bit of information that has come on, that mr navalny was my parents have been allowed into the church to mourn the death of their son and attend his funeral, and you can see some images there of other people who have been allowed in through the door. if you are just allowed in through the door. if you arejustjoining us, just to remind you of the strong police presence thatis you of the strong police presence that is there, the guards who are there, preventing people from attending the church, despite the huge numbers who have lined the streets there. we know that no images have been allowed from inside the church. that is what we understand in terms of the signs you may have seen on the front of the door saying, "no videos are allowed from within the church, but outside there are huge numbers

of people who are attending, several hundreds of people. they started gathering to attend about an hour and a half ago even though they had no way of knowing how close they would be allowed to get to the church, and no indication they would be allowed inside as well. but as you heard from our bbc russian colleague olga, this reflects a huge amount of popularity that mr navalny had in russia. bells toll you are live with bbc news, and what you are seeing now are scenes from outside the church in moscow where mr navalny's funeral is taking place, and with me as my colleague carrie shevchenko. huge crowds now and what we are seeing is the

youtube channel because as i said —— vitaly shevchenko. they are covering it in their own way on the youtube channel. i it in their own way on the youtube channel. . ., ., , channel. i believe what i am seeing riaht now channel. i believe what i am seeing right now on _ channel. i believe what i am seeing right now on social— channel. i believe what i am seeing right now on social media, - channel. i believe what i am seeing right now on social media, these i channel. i believe what i am seeingl right now on social media, these are what are the first pictures, what is the first picture from inside the church showing alexei navalny's body lying in the coffin, and a lot of flowers also on top of that coffin and a crowd of people gathered around alexei navalny's coffin inside the church so that, i believe is the first picture we are seeing from inside the church and it appears to show that the service has begun. appears to show that the service has beuun. . .,. appears to show that the service has beuun. , .,, ., appears to show that the service has beuun. , ., , ., begun. yes, those... that is what we are seeing — begun. yes, those... that is what we are seeing on — begun. yes, those... that is what we are seeing on the _ begun. yes, those... that is what we are seeing on the screen _ begun. yes, those... that is what we are seeing on the screen now. - are seeing on the screen now. viewers on the screen can see the first image from inside the church

where alexei navalny's funeral is taking place and that image from his team's youtube channel, that is where that has come from. our first bit of image from within the church there because as we have been saying there because as we have been saying there is very strict control not only on who is allowed inside the church but also on what images are allowed from inside because we saw a sign on the door saying no photography allowed. this image has come through there, the first image from within the church where alexei navalny's funeral is taking place. you are live with bbc news, and if you are just you are live with bbc news, and if you arejustjoining this is coverage of the funeral of the russian opposition leader alexei navalny, whose funeral is taking place in a church in moscow on the south—eastern... in south—eastern moscow in the district where he and his family lived and any short while

there will be his burial at the cemetery nearby on the banks of the moscow river in moscow after the church service here and what you're seeing on your screen is the first image that come out of the church where his funeral is taking place. strict restrictions on what is allowed, what photography is allowed, what photography is allowed, a sign on the door saying that no photography is allowed but that no photography is allowed but that image has come out from the youtube channel of mr navalny's team, vitaly. aha, youtube channel of mr navalny's team. vitaly-— team, vitaly. a key associate of alexei navalny _ team, vitaly. a key associate of alexei navalny has _ team, vitaly. a key associate of alexei navalny has just - team, vitaly. a key associate of alexei navalny hasjust posted l team, vitaly. a key associate of. alexei navalny hasjust posted on alexei navalny has just posted on social media saying, i'm sorry, i'm not going to post a photograph from inside the church. "i want to give you hope". might make that is the latest image. can you remind us who thatis latest image. can you remind us who that is from. used to be a key figure in the hunters of alexei navalny, a key figure, and he is obviously outside of russia at the

moment. i've met