Dozens of Alexei Navalny supporters have visited his grave to lay flowers and pay tribute to the late Kremlin critic on what would have been his 48th birthday. 

The opposition leader died at an Arctic prison colony in February, prompting outrage from Western governments.

Nearly four months on, his family say the cause of his death remains unexplained.

His widow Yulia Navalnaya has accused Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder, and last week his allies called for additional sanctions to punish the Russian president’s inner circle.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in his death. According to his death certificate, he died of natural causes.

Navalny‘s mother, Lyudmila, as well as his mother-in-law Alla Abrosimova, were among those who gathered at his grave in the Borisovskoye cemetery in southeast Moscow on Tuesday.

Video posted by SOTAvision on the social media platform Telegram shows a memorial service led by priest Dmitry Safronov marking 40 days since the activist’s death.

Russian journalists jailed over alleged work for Alexei Navalny group

Alexei Navalny: Russian Orthodox priest Dmitry Safronov demoted after holding memorial service for Vladimir Putin critic

Posthumous memoir written by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to be published

Mr Safronov was previously banned from clerical duties by the Russian Orthodox Church for presiding over a similar service in March.

According to the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, three police officers were on duty near the cemetery but they did not make any arrests.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Having been convicted of multiple charges, ranging from fraud to extremism, Navalny was serving sentences totalling more than 30 years when he died.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

His Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) is outlawed in Russia, and has been accused by the authorities of having links to the CIA. What remains of his team now operates in exile.

Related posts:

Horrifying personal accounts of three days under terrorist fire in Mozambique More than 80 dead after rifle grenades land on Myanmar protesters UK reveals Afghan refugee resettlement details as UN pledges $1bn in aid Indonesia names new capital on different island to replace sinking Jakarta as parliament backs move Inside the eerie village on the frontline of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia US and Kremlin’s top diplomats to meet over Ukraine as Russia ramps up drills in ‘extremely dangerous situation’ ‘I wish I was dead’: Growing fear and no time to mourn inside the next city in Russia’s sights Ukrainian forces may have to retreat in Luhansk to avoid capture, governor says Germany ‘would not stand in the way’ if Poland decides to send tanks to Ukraine For the first time ever, Brazil’s football team wear black shirts during game Rubiales arrives at court for questioning over Hermoso kiss Boat captain jailed over fire that killed 34 people