of church, the funeral service of alexei navalny. we are getting various different picture feeds into us here at the bbc building. and these are not life pictures. ijust want to underline that. it is a couple of hours ago and gives you a sense of what was happening inside with alexei navalny�*s open coffin at the heart of that funeral service. we know his parents were inside and we saw them heading in. this is a picture from a little earlier. this is them heading into the church service. that funeral has now finished. the coffin has been driven from the church about a mile or so to a different location in moscow to the cemetery where we are awaiting the cemetery where we are awaiting the next stage of the afternoon's proceedings there. these pictures from a little earlier and these are the first moments we

saw the coffin arriving from the truck, coming out of the black vehicle you saw, coming out of that into the church, and at this stage we still didn't know quite who would be allowed into the church and what family members if any would be there and we subsequently saw the parents and we subsequently saw the parents and others from inside the church. now we have these live pictures. they are freezing every now and again. sometimes they are static, sometimes moving but this is the current live feed we have just outside the cemetery for the burial of alexei navalny. olga, if we could just reflect a little bit on the wider significance of the day, olga ivshina, still with us. given there were so many unknowns about every stage of this process. yes. were so many unknowns about every stage of this process.— stage of this process. yes, for sure, stage of this process. yes, for sure. these — stage of this process. yes, for sure, these past _ stage of this process. yes, for sure, these past two -

stage of this process. yes, for sure, these past two weeks i stage of this process. yes, for i sure, these past two weeks have stage of this process. yes, for - sure, these past two weeks have been really— sure, these past two weeks have been really hard _ sure, these past two weeks have been really hard and painful for the navalny — really hard and painful for the navalny family, especially for his mother_ navalny family, especially for his mother who had to fly urgently from moscow _ mother who had to fly urgently from moscow to _ mother who had to fly urgently from moscow to the arctic circle, so thousands— moscow to the arctic circle, so thousands and thousands of kilometres away, in order to see the body of— kilometres away, in order to see the body of her— kilometres away, in order to see the body of her son, to try to get the body— body of her son, to try to get the body of— body of her son, to try to get the body of her— body of her son, to try to get the body of her son, to try to get the body of her son, then for nine days she had _ body of her son, then for nine days she had to — body of her son, then for nine days she had to go back, report to different_ she had to go back, report to different marks, listening to different marks, listening to different stories and negotiations, —— reported different morgues. only nine days— —— reported different morgues. only nine days after his death was his body— nine days after his death was his body handed over to his mother. then it was, _ body handed over to his mother. then it was, from _ body handed over to his mother. then it was, from what we hear from navalny's — it was, from what we hear from navalny's team, it was quite a harsh quest _ navalny's team, it was quite a harsh quest for— navalny's team, it was quite a harsh quest for them to find a suitable spot. _ quest for them to find a suitable spot. for— quest for them to find a suitable spot, for them to find an organisation which would agree to prepare _ organisation which would agree to prepare the body for the funeral, the church— prepare the body for the funeral, the church which agreed to do the service, _ the church which agreed to do the service, so— the church which agreed to do the service, so now that all of those procedures— service, so now that all of those procedures are over today we are seeing _

procedures are over today we are seeing the — procedures are over today we are seeing the funeral procedure, the huriah _ seeing the funeral procedure, the huriah we — seeing the funeral procedure, the burial. we see those impressive pictures— burial. we see those impressive pictures of— burial. we see those impressive pictures of hundreds and hundreds of peopie _ pictures of hundreds and hundreds of people who gathered today, who came, despite _ people who gathered today, who came, despite significant personal risks they are — despite significant personal risks they are taking, to provide you some wider— they are taking, to provide you some wider context since the russian invasion— wider context since the russian invasion in— wider context since the russian invasion in ukraine russia has introduced quite draconian laws and we know— introduced quite draconian laws and we know that in the past two years alone _ we know that in the past two years alone thousands of people were detained, some of them ended up in 'ail, detained, some of them ended up in jail. and _ detained, some of them ended up in jail. and we — detained, some of them ended up in jail, and we already know for a fact that at— jail, and we already know for a fact that at least several people who were _ that at least several people who were laying the flowers on the day of navalny's jobs lost theirjobs with a — of navalny's jobs lost theirjobs with a clear message it was connected to their political position. all those hundreds of peopie — position. all those hundreds of people who came today to the church and cemetery, they are taking significant personal risks, and despite — significant personal risks, and despite that, despite the implications they are not aware of yet, implications they are not aware of yet. they— implications they are not aware of yet, they have chosen to come. olga, thank ou yet, they have chosen to come. olga, thank you very _ yet, they have chosen to come. olga, thank you very much _ yet, they have chosen to come. olga, thank you very much for _ yet, they have chosen to come. olga, thank you very much for that. - yet, they have chosen to come. olga, thank you very much for that. i - yet, they have chosen to come. oin— thank you very much for that. i know you will be keeping across events in

moscow. just so you know, we, too, will be keeping across all the various different feeds so we won't miss any of those hugely significant moments there in moscow, but we will take a look at another very significant international story right now. since the start of anti—government protests sparked by the death of the 22—year—old detained for not wearing the hijab in iran, they are having elections today. two separate polls, one for members of parliament and one for members of parliament and one for members of parliament and one for the assembly of experts that appoints and dismisses iran's supreme leader, the country's most powerfulfigure. the supreme leader, the country's most powerful figure. the elections are seen as a key test of iran's leadership but suggestions that polling is at a record low, with groups calling for a boycott of the vote. the bbc has not been allowed to report from iran for five years but our reporter carolyn davis has been given rare permission to report

from the capital, tehran. the been given rare permission to report from the capital, tehran.— from the capital, tehran. the polls have epened _ from the capital, tehran. the polls have opened in _ from the capital, tehran. the polls have opened in irant _ from the capital, tehran. the polls have opened in irant and - from the capital, tehran. the polls have opened in irant and this - from the capital, tehran. the polls have opened in irant and this is . from the capital, tehran. the pollsl have opened in irant and this is one of the polling centres, a religious community centre in tehran and you can see the people are waiting to get their id checked, and they are then given their ballot papers and can be cast their vote. this is a particularly significant election in iran because it is the first bout that has been cast since we saw countrywide protests from 2022, after the death of a 22—year—old women. she had previously been arrested by iran's morality police allegedly for not wearing the correct headdress. these very wide protests were then according to human rights organisations very brutally put down. we are in one of the centres that is open to the media. you can see there are camera crews from around the world, local and international, and in amongst them are voters as well. there has

been a major concern about voter apathy in this particular election and some early polling suggests it could be a record low turnout and that raises questions of legitimacy for the government here in iran. thanks to carolyn for that. joining me now is our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawkins. can you tell us who you have been talking to and what that tells about what is happening in iran? taste talking to and what that tells about what is happening in iran? we have seen these — what is happening in iran? we have seen these elections _ what is happening in iran? we have seen these elections take _ what is happening in iran? we have seen these elections take place - seen these elections take place against a backdrop of huge economic problems, obviously trouble in the middle east, but also the protests that were brutally crushed. i have been speaking to three women who all had their lives changed by those protests and their anger at the death of mahsa amini. one was jailed but says she is still going out without the hijab. another is a woman who basically lost herjob, she can't go into the office any more because when she goes into her office she has to wear the hijab. she says, i refuse on principle to

now wear it, so has essentially lost herjob. she does some work from home. she says she still goes out to restaurants, cafes, bookstalls, but they could all be closed down if they could all be closed down if they let in somebody unveiled. so both of these women have made a huge sacrifice and then other women i have been speaking to told me about being chased through the metro recently because she wasn't wearing the hijab, one woman i spoke to. they say they are willing to pay a price for change and they don't believe change will come through the ballot box and they know that because it is so tightly controlled and we can talk more about that but they said emphatically they will not vote because this is about the legitimacy of the government and just by turning out they believe they would show, they would give some sense of legitimacy to the process. i think what you are seeing at the moment is a widening gulf between iran's clerical establishment and most of the people of iran. . �* , establishment and most of the people of iran. ., �*, ., ,. ., ., ., of iran. that's fascinating and a real insight _ of iran. that's fascinating and a real insight into _ of iran. that's fascinating and a real insight into some - of iran. that's fascinating and a real insight into some of- of iran. that's fascinating and a real insight into some of the i

of iran. that's fascinating and a i real insight into some of the risks and challenges people are taking. let's focus a little on the election itself. talk as to how it works, the expected turnout and what it means. —— can you talk us through. this expected turnout and what it means. -- can you talk us through.— -- can you talk us through. as you said earlier. _ -- can you talk us through. as you said earlier, you _ -- can you talk us through. as you said earlier, you have _ -- can you talk us through. as you said earlier, you have two - said earlier, you have two elections, 15,000 candidates, the parliamentary elections, a record number, for 290 seats in parliament. at the issue is every single one of those candidates has been vetted and many moderates and reformists have been disqualified, and in fact the whole reformist bloc, and you may remember them, there were reformists in iran, there were reformist president of iran and even one former president of iran has been disqualified from standing for that body you spoke about, the assembly of experts, which is important because it will decide the succession after the supreme leader ayatollah khamenei passes away. so it is important. the reformists have

said they are not going to take part, that these elections are meaningless, so you have the ayatollahs saying it is the religious duty of people in iran to vote and someone very prominent in iran, injail, would like the nobel peace prize fighting for women's rights, she says it is a sham and it is people's moral duty not to take part, so back to that idea of turnout. turnout will be very interesting to see and the iranian authorities are doing everything they can to get out the vote, and you will have noticed in the report there she was taking another journalist to a busy polling stations is that it will be interesting to see how busy other polling stations are.— polling stations are. interesting, and we will _ polling stations are. interesting, and we will wait _ polling stations are. interesting, and we will wait of _ polling stations are. interesting, and we will wait of course i polling stations are. interesting, and we will wait of course to i polling stations are. interesting, j and we will wait of course to find out. i want to ask quickly about international response and reaction. there won't be any direct response, clearly, but in a broader, kind of more geopolitical sense how are these elections being viewed around these elections being viewed around the world? i these elections being viewed around the world? . ~ ,

these elections being viewed around the world? ., ,, , ., the world? i mean, i think they are bein: the world? i mean, i think they are being seen — the world? i mean, i think they are being seen as _ the world? i mean, i think they are being seen as a _ the world? i mean, i think they are being seen as a process _ the world? i mean, i think they are being seen as a process that i the world? i mean, i think they are being seen as a process that is i the world? i mean, i think they are | being seen as a process that is only likely to increase the trend we are seeing in iran which is strengthening the grip of hardliners and conservatives. one other interesting thing, i spoke recently to a professor in iran who is opposed to the government and the authorities. he actually took part in the revolution of 1979 and had governmentjobs afterwards. what he told me as you're seeing a steadily number of iranians who support the regime. he thinks it is now about 80% of people against the regime but 20% support them because they do still view the clerical establishment, the islamic republic, as a religious entity, and he says thatis as a religious entity, and he says that is a solid enough base for the authorities at the moment, but the women i am speaking to are saying, change has to come, we will pay the price for it, and one woman said a new revolution will come, we just don't know when it will have an

effect. ., ., ., ,, , ., don't know when it will have an effect. ., ., ., ,, don't know when it will have an effect. ., ., . ~' . effect. caroline, thank you so much for talkin: effect. caroline, thank you so much fortalking us— effect. caroline, thank you so much for talking us through _ effect. caroline, thank you so much for talking us through the _ effect. caroline, thank you so much for talking us through the details. l for talking us through the details. i appreciate it. thank you. let me just quickly return to moscow, just to keep you up—to—date with what is happening there. we have seen hundreds of people out on the streets in moscow for the funeral of alexei navalny. the church service, the funeral, has finished and we are now waiting for the conclusion at the cemetery, the burial of alexei navalny. the coffin arrived half an hour or so ago. these pictures we are seeing here are part of a feed from alexei navalny�*s youtube channel for his allies, continuing their work and his work and they have been using various different streams —— we have been using various different live streams of pictures coming in so we are keeping a cross that, hundreds of sources. many people still out on the streets in moscow. we will be returning to russia when we get our next update. now, here in the uk the left—wing

politician george galloway has won the rochdale by—election. he campaigned on his support for the palestinian cause in a town in greater manchester that has a large asian muslim community. keir starmer, this is for gaza. applause you have paid and you will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied palestine in the gaza strip. well, it is significant _ palestine in the gaza strip. well, it is significant because _ palestine in the gaza strip. well, it is significant because labour i palestine in the gaza strip. well, it is significant because labour had been expected to win the seat until its campaign was thrown into

disarray after their candidate was engulfed in an anti—semitism row. galloway is a former labour mp and has now vowed to recruit 50 candidates to send a message to the labour leader sir keir starmer at this year's general election. the ex labour was first elected to parliament in 1987 and has since represented voters in four cities for three parties across four decades. i willjust interrupt that story and we will head back to moscow. as you can see, there is significant movement and development there. the coffin being brought into there. the coffin being brought into the cemetery. we last saw the cloth and leave the church which was about and leave the church which was about a mile away or so from the cemetery. it went into the back of a black van vehicle —— we last saw the coffin leave the church. we just saw in the last few moments that the van arrived with the coffin for the burial service at the cemetery. still in moscow, just about a mile orso still in moscow, just about a mile or so away. we know his mother is

there. we saw her enter the church a little earlier for the funeral service and we can now see these pictures at the cemetery as well. we were not sure at the start of the day who exactly would be able to be there. of course his wife and children are not thought to be here and we were not clear about who would be allowed or able to attend the various stages of the proceedings but we did see there his mother, not only in the church, the funeral service, mother, not only in the church, the funeralservice, but mother, not only in the church, the funeral service, but clearly now at the burial service as well. so we have a couple of different feeds we are keeping across to give you a sense of what is happening because there are still hundreds and hundreds of people lining the streets walking down the streets in moscow. what is it? half an hour or so walk between the two locations

here, just about a mile. but with clearly so many people wanting to pay their respects and show their support. they brought flowers, they threw flowers and they have been chanting alexei navalny�*s name and chanting alexei navalny�*s name and chanting that they are not afraid, saying he was not afraid and they would not be afraid. let's just take a quick pause and now listen in to see if there is any sound now. string music

we arejust going we are just going to stay with these pictures if you are justjoining we are just going to stay with these pictures if you arejustjoining us. this is alexei navalny�*s often, it has arrived at the cemetery following the funeral service at the church earlier. we are just going to listen in to events here.

owning if you are gesturing we are watching people pay their respects as alexei navalny�*s coffin is lying at the cemetery —— if you are just joining us. we are following events in moscow. in the last couple of errors a church service, funeral service, was held in the coffin being laid here, brought to the cemetery. just a bit of a warning. there is an open casket. people are paying their respects to alexei navalny.

just to explain the pictures here we have a couple of picture feeds coming into the building, one of which is alexei navalny�*s own youtube channel which his team are continuing to work on, and they are continuing to work on, and they are continuing their coverage too. so these are the pictures we are on that you can see, just to explain some of the on—screen images that you can see. my colleague olga is

still with us and watching these images. olga, just talk us through the significance of these moments. yes, as we are talking it seems, yeah, _ yes, as we are talking it seems, yeah. that — yes, as we are talking it seems, yeah, that discovering his body only a few— yeah, that discovering his body only a few moments ago, his parents, they were able _ a few moments ago, his parents, they were able to _ a few moments ago, his parents, they were able to see the face and touch the body— were able to see the face and touch the body of— were able to see the face and touch the body of their son for the very last time — the body of their son for the very last time i— the body of their son for the very last time. i think it is also important to mention that his brother— important to mention that his brother hasn't been able to be present— brother hasn't been able to be present there at that moment. his brother— present there at that moment. his brother is — present there at that moment. his brother is on the wanted list in russia — brother is on the wanted list in russia so— brother is on the wanted list in russia so he has to stay out of the country _ russia so he has to stay out of the country and — russia so he has to stay out of the country. and alexei navalny's wife yuiia _ country. and alexei navalny's wife yuiia aiso — country. and alexei navalny's wife yulia also with his kids had to leave — yulia also with his kids had to leave russia, following several warnings — leave russia, following several warnings that she might get into trouble, — warnings that she might get into trouble, as it is often described in russia _

trouble, as it is often described in russia behind—the—scenes. so, yes, his parents— russia behind—the—scenes. so, yes, his parents were able to be present at that— his parents were able to be present at that burial, but his brother, his kids and _ at that burial, but his brother, his kids and his — at that burial, but his brother, his kids and his wife are not there. it must _ kids and his wife are not there. it must be — kids and his wife are not there. it must be really hard for them. we see that navalny's body at the moment is bein- that navalny's body at the moment is being prepared for its final journey, _ being prepared for its final journey, and it feels often like a chapter— journey, and it feels often like a chapter in— journey, and it feels often like a chapter in political life in russia, another— chapter in political life in russia, another popular and prominent critic of the _ another popular and prominent critic of the kremlin ending his life abruptly, at the moment... just a few years — abruptly, at the moment... just a few years ago another prominent critic— few years ago another prominent critic of— few years ago another prominent critic of the kremlin was killed, murdered. _ critic of the kremlin was killed, murdered, by a gunshotjust critic of the kremlin was killed, murdered, by a gunshot just a critic of the kremlin was killed, murdered, by a gunshotjust a few hundred _ murdered, by a gunshotjust a few hundred metres away from the kremlin — hundred metres away from the kremlin. alexei navalny suddenly

died in _ kremlin. alexei navalny suddenly died in a — kremlin. alexei navalny suddenly died in a penal colony in the artic circle _ died in a penal colony in the artic circle the — died in a penal colony in the artic circle. the causes of his death are still unclear— circle. the causes of his death are still unclear even though his family has an— still unclear even though his family has an official paper saying the death— has an official paper saying the death was natural, but his team wants— death was natural, but his team wants to — death was natural, but his team wants to investigate what exactly has happened to alexei navalny so for hundreds of people today, hundreds and hundreds of people who gathered _ hundreds and hundreds of people who gathered at that cemetery and church in moscow _ gathered at that cemetery and church in moscow this feels a very special and sombre day. some say they feel the hope _ and sombre day. some say they feel the hope was lost. others say they will keep— the hope was lost. others say they will keep on fighting for a free russia, — will keep on fighting for a free russia, the future of russia as they see it. _ russia, the future of russia as they see it. but — russia, the future of russia as they see it, but definitely it is a very sad and — see it, but definitely it is a very sad and doubtful moment in russia's history— sad and doubtful moment in russia's history because it shows the life of the political opponents of the kremiin— the political opponents of the kremlin seem to be very fragile and, yeah, _ kremlin seem to be very fragile and, yeah. for— kremlin seem to be very fragile and, yeah, for many people in russia it seems _ yeah, for many people in russia it seems another warning of how

dangerous the political struggle against — dangerous the political struggle against the kremlin narrative is at the moment. the kremlin itself clearly— the moment. the kremlin itself clearly tries to distance itself from — clearly tries to distance itself from what is going on today. putin's spokesperson has been asked today whether— spokesperson has been asked today whether there would be any official comments. he said nothing will come and that, _ comments. he said nothing will come and that, you know, they said everything they wanted, and just to remind _ everything they wanted, and just to remind you — everything they wanted, and just to remind you for the past several years— remind you for the past several years putin has never named navalny by his— years putin has never named navalny by his name — years putin has never named navalny by his name and has not expressed any condolences or publicly send any messages _ any condolences or publicly send any messages to alexei navalny's family, neither— messages to alexei navalny's family, neither on— messages to alexei navalny's family, neither on the day of his death nor today~ _ neither on the day of his death nor toda . ., . ., neither on the day of his death nor toda. ., .., ,., neither on the day of his death nor toda. ., , ., ,, neither on the day of his death nor toda. ., , ., «r, today. olga, could you 'ust talk us throu~h a today. olga, could you 'ust talk us through a little i today. olga, could you 'ust talk us through a little of_ today. olga, could you 'ust talk us through a little of the i today. olga, could you just talk us through a little of the proceedingsj through a little of the proceedings today, the orthodox traditions that we are witnessing?— we are witnessing? yeah, so this mornin: we are witnessing? yeah, so this morning alexei _ we are witnessing? yeah, so this morning alexei navalny's - we are witnessing? yeah, so this morning alexei navalny's body i we are witnessing? yeah, so this l morning alexei navalny's body was received _ morning alexei navalny's body was received by his relatives from the

morgue, — received by his relatives from the morgue, it— received by his relatives from the morgue, it was delivered to an orthodox— morgue, it was delivered to an orthodox church. as alexei said, in recent— orthodox church. as alexei said, in recent years. — orthodox church. as alexei said, in recent years, after he surprised the poisoning _ recent years, after he surprised the poisoning attempt in 2020, he became a believer. _ poisoning attempt in 2020, he became a believer, an orthodox christian, so today— a believer, an orthodox christian, so today he — a believer, an orthodox christian, so today he was buried at... his body— so today he was buried at... his body was — so today he was buried at... his body was delivered to a church where a short _ body was delivered to a church where a short funeral service was being held by— a short funeral service was being held by the priest, then his body was delivered to the cemetery, according — was delivered to the cemetery, according to russian traditions, the coffin— according to russian traditions, the coffin being held open for the time of the _ coffin being held open for the time of the church service then, again according — of the church service then, again according to traditions, his relatives, members of his family, were _ relatives, members of his family, were able — relatives, members of his family, were able to pay last respects to him _ were able to pay last respects to him after— were able to pay last respects to him. after that, were able to pay last respects to him. afterthat, his face were able to pay last respects to him. after that, his face was covered _ him. after that, his face was covered with a white cloth, icons

and the — covered with a white cloth, icons and the pieces of cloth with christian— and the pieces of cloth with christian prayers were put into the coffin _ christian prayers were put into the coffin and — christian prayers were put into the coffin and the coffin itself would be closed. and for as long as officials _ be closed. and for as long as officials allow it, people would be passing _ officials allow it, people would be passing by, paying their last respects— passing by, paying their last respects to alexei navalny and then later his _ respects to alexei navalny and then later his body would be put to the final resting place.— later his body would be put to the final resting place. olga, thank you ve much final resting place. olga, thank you very much for— final resting place. olga, thank you very much for that. _ very much for that. you are watching bbc news. make sure the mic is on. margaret attwood, welcome.

crowd chant: navalny, navalny... today at one — big crowds in moscow defy the authorities and turn out for the funeral of the russian opposition leader alexei navalny. mr navalny died in prison two weeks ago. his widow says he was tortured and murdered. also on the programme this lunchtime...

cheering. the veteran left—winger george galloway comfortably wins the rochdale by—election and says it's for gaza. keir starmer and rishi sunak are two cheeks of the same backside and they both got well and truly spanked tonight, here in rochdale. elections in iran — for the first time in five years, the bbc is allowed to report from inside the country. the polls are open here in iran, but the big question is, how many will vote? jailed for the rest of his life — marcus osborne, who stabbed to death his ex partner and her new boyfriend in a merciless knife attack. # won't you make me dizzy from your kisses. and unveiled today, the uk's entry for this year's eurovision song contest —

dizzy by olly alexander.