Navalny funeral heavily guarded by Russian security forces

Alexi Navalny's funeral is expected to take place in Moscow today. The vocal Putin critic died in prison on February 16, where he was being held on what supporters have called politically-motivated charges. Authorities are already being deployed at the church where Navalny's ceremony will take place. Police arrived in buses throughout the morning and set up barriers blocking the street leading up to the site. Several churches reportedly refused to hold services. Opposition activists believe that the Kremlin complicated Navalny's burial to avoid a public ceremony out of fear it could trigger street protests.