Lights and marshals shone in the spring darkness outside the Russian embassy in Stockholm. On Friday evening, around a hundred people had gathered to remember and honor Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny after he was buried earlier in the day.
– He is a hero and he motivates me. I watched the funeral all day, from morning until I got here. I have cried and feel he doesn’t deserve this. They (the Russian regime eds. amn.) murdered Navalny, says Yulia.
She comes from Belarus and has lived a large part of her life in fear of the regime there, even today – even though she lives in Sweden. But she says that Navalny inspired her not to be afraid.
– He was not quiet and afraid. He motivates me. I stand here and am afraid when you film me, afraid that something will happen to me. But I’m not afraid anymore, because for the first time in my life I’m not hiding, she says.
Julia: “I feel strong”
The demonstration is one of hundreds around the world held on Friday.
– I feel that it is powerful that we are here. Everyone is equally afraid. I asked my husband if I could be arrested in Sweden, murdered or thrown in prison. I am so scared. But at the same time I feel strong. I have lived in fear of what will happen if I open my mouth, but now I am not afraid anymore, says Julia.
– We can stand here and we can be afraid, but no one can do anything with our freedom.
Navalny gives hope and strength
Julia had her husband Hannes Gidlöf with her to the demonstration. He tells us that he is there to support anyone fighting for their freedom, especially his wife.
– The strength that Navalny provides can be used by many people every day. Just the knowledge that you can influence and that he managed to influence so many.
– Even though it is very cold here now, I would say that the warmth from people and their hearts and the marshals, makes it fantastic, says Hannes Gidlöf.
Alexei Navalny spent his last days in a Russian penal colony in Siberia, north of the Arctic Circle. On February 16, it was announced that he had died. The cause of death is still unclear.
Navalny was 47 years old.