Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s funeral to take place in Moscow

Alexei Navalny’s funeral is expected to take place in Moscow on Friday (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Relatives and supporters of Alexei Navalny are preparing to hold the opposition leader’s funeral on Friday in southeastern Moscow.

It follows a battle with authorities over the release of his body after his still-unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony.