Hundreds of people in Russia have been gathering for the funeral service of Alexei Navalny, the vocal Putin critic who died in jail last month.
Police have set up barriers around the church outside Moscow where the ceremony is due to take place ahead of his burial later in the day.
His team complained of not being able to find a hearse.
The memorial service has been scheduled for 14:00 Moscow time at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows, in Maryino.
The burial will then take place at the Borisovskoye Cemetery nearby at 16:00.
The funeral service will also be streamed online on Navalny’s YouTube channel.
The opposition leader’s team – who are overseas and have encouraged people to attend – have shared a map of the route between the two locations.
They also shared a list of places abroad – from Seoul to Rome, Montreal and Stockholm – where people can join memorial services.
In March 2015, thousands lined the streets to pay homage to slain opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, but it is unlikely any similar public outpouring of grief for an opponent of President Vladimir Putin would be allowed now, says the BBC.
In recent years, Russian authorities have cracked down on any action that could be interpreted as criticism of the government. Attempts at commemorating Navalny’s death were met by a heavy-handed response, with makeshift monuments cleared and hundreds arrested.
Police have been deployed at the church where the service is due to take place.
Telegram channel RusNews also said that surveillance cameras had been installed „on every streetlight” surrounding the cemetery.
First Department – a group of lawyers and human rights defenders – has shared advice on social media for those planning to go to Navalny’s funeral.
It warned about „pro-government activists” acting as provocateurs and urged people to remain vigilant: „Detentions cannot be ruled out after the ceremony… Stay under the radar of security forces – do not use public transport or apply for paperwork in the days after the funeral.”
The advice also includes not carrying any objects bearing the photograph of Navalny or the symbol of his Anti-Corruption Foundation, which was declared an extremist organization by Russian authorities.
It is not known which members of Navalny’s family will be able to attend the funeral other than his mother, Lyudmila, who recently publicly accused the authorities of withholding her son’s body.
Navalny’s children Daria, 23, and Zakhar, 15, live abroad.
His widow, Yulia, has also been overseas recently and might be at risk of being arrested if she returns due to her work with Navalny’s team and her recent public declarations in which she blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for her husband’s death.
The authorities have reportedly tried to thwart Navalny’s team’s attempts to organize a public farewell ceremony for the opposition leader for days.
„Unknown people are calling mortuaries and threatening them if they accept to take Alexei’s body”, said his spokeswoman.
A heavy security presence has been established and thousands of mourners have gathered around the church and cemetery where Navalny will be buried in the Russian capital.
On Tuesday, Ms Yarmysh said Navalny’s team were struggling to find somewhere to hold the ceremony. Some funeral homes had claimed they were fully booked, she said, while others told them they were „forbidden” from working with them.
Those who will hold unsanctioned gatherings for the deceased will be prosecuted, says the Kremlin.
