Alex Therrien
Live reporter

We're now bringing our live coverage of Yulia Navalnaya's speech to the European Parliament to a close.

You can read our story here on the news that Alexei Navalny's funeral will be held on Friday in Moscow. Navalnaya today said she did not know whether the funeral would be peaceful "or whether the police will arrest those who have come to say goodbye to Alexei".

And there's plenty more BBC material on the life of Navalny.

Here's our obituary on the man who was Vladimir Putin's most vociferous critic and here's Navalny in his own words, giving a sense of the activist's dark humour during his years spent opposing the Kremlin.

Or instead, watch a key part of Navalnaya's speech to European politicians below.

The page was edited by Barbara Tasch and me. The writers were Tarik Habte and Jacqueline Howard.

Thanks for joining us.

Image source, EPA

Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei Navalny's widow, delivered a speech to the European Parliament this morning following his death.

Here's a quick summary of the key points from what she said:

• She said European leaders needed to "stop being boring" if they wanted to defeat Russian President Vladimir Putin
• Political activist Navalny had to become an "innovator" to spread his message of opposition to Putin through Russia, she said
• She called on international leaders to adopt a similar mindset, saying Putin cannot be hurt by resolutions or sanctions
• Navalnaya said the "murder" of her husband - who died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February - showed that Putin was "capable of anything" and that he could not be negotiated with
• She also confirmed her husband's funeral will be held on Friday, but that it was not clear whether it would be peaceful and if Russian police would intervene

• Navalnaya said there are tens of millions of Russians who are against Putin and the war in Ukraine who should not be persecuted for his actions

Yulia Navalnaya addressed the European Parliament following a debate on how the European Union can strengthen its security and defence.

In recent weeks, European leaders have been looking more seriously at the threat Russia poses to its territories, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying earlier this week that Ukraine's defeat of Russia is key to Europe's security.

Russian troops have recently made gains in Ukraine which faces arms shortages.

Speaking on Wednesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Europe had to be ready "no matter what" citing a "more and more aggressive Russia" as proof that Europe had to bolster its defences.

But just two weeks ago, the boss of Germany's biggest defence firm told the BBC that Europe will need 10 years before it is fully ready to defend itself.

Following Navalnaya's speech, MEPs pledged to support her in her fight for a free Russia and railed against the threat that Vladimir Putin poses to democracy.

As we reported earlier, Yulia Navalnaya was given a standing ovation by members of the European Parliament.

Watch the MEPs' reaction after she entered the Chambers in Strasbourg, and was introduced by Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament.

Nick Beake
Reporting from the European Parliament in Strasbourg

MEPs, journalists and members of the public have been digesting what they’ve just heard.

This was a speech given by a grieving widow who spoke of the family’s battle to retrieve her husband’s body from the Russian authorities – as a well as a vow from a democracy campaigner who promised to do her best to make Alexei Navalny’s dream come true.

One of the most moving moments for those in the auditorium came when Navalnaya momentarily lost her place in her speech: she paused, took a deep breath and looked up to the sky – as a burst of applause broke out in support and solidarity and filled the room.

Next is Estonian MEP Jaak Madison, who says independent polling shows too many people still support Putin and the old imperialist ideas of Russia.

But he says this same polling shows almost 30% of the population opposes these idea - some 30 million people.

He says he has hope in the future for normalised relations with Russia, the biggest country in the world and Estonia's neighbour.

He's followed by Nikolaj Villumsen, a Danish politician of The Left group, who begins by telling Navalnaya that everyone in the European Parliament is mourning the loss of her husband with her.

Villumsen says that Navalny helped to expose Putin's corruption to the world.

He says that "despots like Putin" are are afraid of the truth and for that Navalny paid "the ultimate price".

He says he is happy to see her at the session, and that Putin "did not succeed" in silencing his critics.

He concludes saying, "May the death of Alexei not be in vain. May democracy triumph in the end".

With that, all of the MEPs responding to Navalnaya's speech have spoken.

Nicola Procaccini, an Italian MEP from the Brothers of Italy party, tells Parliament that he has been following Navalny's activities for years and has always admired him.

He adds that Navalny loved his country and its people, saying: "He always fought for his country without using weapons and without fear."

Procaccini says Navalny knew returning to Russia in 2021, following his poisoning, was a "certain death" but that his "dream of a free Russia" was not over.

Procaccini adds that Navalny's death will have a lasting legacy: "A free man was killed but thousands were born."

German politician and Greens/ EFA Group co-president Terry Reintke is next to address Navalnaya and the European Parliament (EP).

She says that in order to keep Alexei Navalny's memory alive, the EP has to do everything in its power to do two things:

• Demand an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death
• Protect the remaining political prisoners in Russia

She says the Navalny murder clearly shows that Putin's biggest enemy is democracy and freedom, and says that one day there will be a free Russia, which Europe will fight side-by-side for.

Valérie Hayer, of the Renew Europe political group, begins by extending her condolences to Navalnaya.

"Your courage is an example for us to follow," she says.

Hayer, like her colleagues before her, says that "the full responsibility" for Navalny's death falls on the Russian state and Vladimir Putin.

Hayer adds that Putin and his accomplices should be "suffocated" by all means.

She concludes by saying that they will continue to stand by his widow.

Next to respond is Pedro Marques, of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats grouping.

He says the death of Navalny "outraged us". He says the death sent "shockwaves" around Russia and the world.

He says Navalny had "powerful convictions that inspired people".

Marques says Putin's regime is "ultimately responsible" for Navalny's fate, and he goes on to call for an independent investigation into what happened.

He says a democratic Russia will emerge one day.

Manfred Weber, the head of the biggest political group in the EP, the European People's Party, says his first thought was that this was not a coincidence.

"My first thought was this is not a coincidence, this is planned, this is the killer Putin behind [it],” Weber says.

He says Navalnay loved freedom and for this he was locked up. He says he wanted a free Russia and for that reason could not be tolerated by Vladimir Putin.

He talks about Navalny's hope for Russia's future.

Weber says MEPs admire his courage and he has kept alive the hope of democracy in Russia.

Addressing Navalnaya, he says: “You are keeping alive the hope for a free and democratic Russia, and as Europeans and as Democrats we’ll carry the hope with you."

Image source, Reuters

Navalnaya tells the Parliament that they must fight "this criminal gang" and says that financial investigations instead of diplomatic methods will be key.

She says that "tens of millions of Russians" are against Putin and they must not be persecuted.

Navalanaya adds that Putin must answer for what he has done to Russia, Ukraine and her husband.

"Putin must answer for what he has done to my country. Putin must answer for what he has done to a neighboring, peaceful country. And Putin must answer for everything he has done to Alexei," she says.

Concluding with a tribute to Navalny, she adds: "My husband will never see what the beautiful Russia of the future will look like, but we must see it. And I will do my best to make his dream come true, that evil will fall and this beautiful future will come."

MEPs give her a standing ovation as she finishes her speech.

Alexei inspired people despite the restrictions Putin placed on him during his life, Navalnaya continues.

When he was not allowed on TV, he turned to Youtube. When he was denied a vote, he came up with a strategy to take seats away from Putin's party.

"Even in Putin's gulag, Alexei managed to pass on ideas for projects that would make the Kremlin panic," she says.

Navalnaya says to defeat Putin requires becoming an innovator.

She warns that Putin cannot be hurt by sanctions or resolutions, or on the basis of morals and rules.

"This is the answer to the question. If you really want to defeat Putin, you have to become an innovator. And you have to stop being boring.

"You can't hurt Putin with another resolution or another set of sanctions that is no different from the previous ones. You can't defeat him by thinking he's a man of principle who has morals and rules.

Image source, EVN

Navalnaya continues her address, saying Navalny was "tortured and starved".

"And then they killed him. Even after that they abused his body and abused his mother."

She says that her husband's "murder" has shown the public that "Putin is capable of anything and that you cannot negotiate with him."

Navalnaya adds that people are shocked by her husband's death and are concerned that "Putin cannot be defeated".

Navalnaya takes a moment to mark the two-year anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine.

She describes it as a "brutal and sneaky war", and says the whole world rushed to Ukraine's aid.

"But two years have passed, there is much exhaustion, much blood, much disappointment, and Putin has gone nowhere," she says.

Navalnaya adds that people now got used to the war and that people started to say: "Well, we will have to come to an agreement with Putin."

"And then Putin killed my husband, Alexei Navalny," she continues.

She says Navalny was tortured for three years on Putin's orders - he was starved in a tiny stone cell, cut off from the world.

"And then they killed him. Even after that they abused his body and abused his mother," she says.

Image source, Reuters

Navalnaya goes to on to say she is back in Strasbourg, but this time without her family.

She says her team has spent a week preparing for Navalny's funeral, adding, "The funeral will take place the day after tomorrow and I am not sure yet whether it will be peaceful or whether the police will arrest those who have come to say goodbye to Alexei."

She then addresses the European Parliament directly, saying: "However, I'm standing here now because your voters have an important question. They're asking you about it and then you're asking me. The question is: "How can I help you in your fight?."

Yulia Navalnaya has started her speech to European Parliament, speaking in English.

She begins by recalling how her and Navalny went to Strasbourg on a trip together after he was poisoned in 2020. She says it is one of her favourite cities.

Image source, EVN

Yulia Navalnaya has now been introduced by Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, and received a standing ovation.

They are now screening a short film about Alexei Navalny.

Nick Beake
Reporting from the European Parliament in Strasbourg

As well as the MEPs who would normally be here for this session, there are students from across Europe who have been filing through security to listen to Yulia Navalnaya.

There are many more journalists than usual, including independent Russian reporters.

Yulia Navalnaya can expect a warm welcome, for her husband’s fight for a more democratic Russia – devoid of Vladimir Putin – chimes with what many here would describe as “European values”.

There will be added poignancy for Navalnaya. Her daughter Daria was in the same chamber just over two years ago, accepting the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize – for Freedom of Thought – on behalf of her incarcerated father.

Image source, Reuters

As well as providing text updates of Yulia Navalnaya's speech to European Parliament, we'll also be streaming her words on video.

You can watch her remarks, which are set to begin in the next few minutes, by clicking the Play button above.