Navalny widow tells EU to punish Putin's 'mafia' cronies

THE funeral of Alexei Navalny will be held tomorrow in Moscow as his widow urged the EU to crack down on Vladimir Putin's criminal cronies.

- Mark Reynolds

The Kremlin claims Mr Navalny, the strongest domestic critic of the Russian despot, fell unconscious and died suddenly on February 16 after a walk at his Siberian prison.

But the West and his widow Yulia say Putin ordered Mr Navalny's death. A service will be held for the opposition leader, 47, at Borisovskoye cemetery after a farewell ceremony, said supporters.