A Russian priest who held a memorial service for late opposition leader and Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny has been suspended from clerical duties for three years by the head of the country’s Orthodox Church.
Navalny, one of Putin’s fiercest Russian critics, died suddenly on February 16 in the remote Arctic penal prison where he had been serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges widely seen as politically motivated.
Dmitry Safronov presided over a religious service led by Mr. Navalny grave in Moscow on March 26 to mark 40 days since the politician’s death, an important ritual within Russian Tradition of the Orthodox Church.
Early last month, Safronov spoke at the grave and said Navalny had urged Russians not to give up.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appears via video link from the Arctic penal colony where he died. Photo: AP
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He said: “Indeed, we will remember Alexei, we will remember his will for us and we will pray for him and we hope that he will pray for us before the throne of the Lord.”
On Tuesday, the Moscow diocese where the cleric worked said he had been demoted from priest to psalm reader and could not give blessings, wear a cassock or wear the church’s priestly cross for three years.
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He will also be moved to another church in the city, the diocese said in a statement on its website.
“At the end of the penance period, based on information from the place of obedience, a decision will be made on the possibility of continuing his priestly service,” the statement reads.
No reason was given for his punishment, which was signed by Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church and key ally of mr putin.
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The cause of Navalny’s death remains unexplained, although his allies have blamed the Kremlin, something Putin’s regime has denied.
His death certificate said he died of natural causes.
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Russian authorities initially refused to hand over Navalny’s body, citing the need for further investigation.
The politician’s team later said they had had difficulty finding an audience to transport Navalny’s body after the funeral directors received threats from unknown people.
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Safronov was among clerics who previously signed a public letter calling for Navalny’s remains to be returned to his family.
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During his more than two decades in power, Putin has greatly boosted the standing of the Russian Orthodox Church, increasing its prestige, wealth and power after decades of oppression or indifference under Soviet leaders.
In turn, its leaders, such as Patriarch Kirill, have supported its initiatives, including the war in Ukraine.