More than 400 individuals have been detained across 32 cities in Russia for participating in events commemorating the late Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny. Navalny tragically passed away on February 16th after collapsing at the penal colony where he was serving a three-decade sentence. The arrests mark the largest wave of detentions at political gatherings in Russia since September 2022.
Rights group OVD-Info, which monitors freedom of assembly in Russia, reported significant numbers of arrests in cities like St. Petersburg and Moscow, where Navalny’s support has historically been strong. In St. Petersburg alone, over 200 people were detained as of 8 pm on Saturday.
This surge in arrests parallels the events of September 2022, when over 1,300 individuals were detained during protests against President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine. Notably, Russian state news agencies, firmly under Kremlin control, have made no mention of these recent events.
Despite the crackdown, many Russians have continued to defy authorities by laying flowers at impromptu Navalny memorials across the country. The death of the 47-year-old opposition leader leaves a significant void in the Russian opposition as Putin prepares for the upcoming presidential election in March.
In St. Petersburg, footage captured, showed mourners gathering at a monument to the victims of repression, laying flowers and candles, singing hymns, and embracing one another. However, shortly after, around 30 people were arrested by authorities.
Reports from OVD-Info and other sources indicate individual arrests in smaller cities across Russia, including locations as diverse as Belgorod, Vorkuta, and Luhansk (now under Russian control). Despite efforts by authorities to remove flowers left in Navalny’s honor, they continue to appear at various monuments and sites across the country.
Footage from Moscow depicted law enforcement forcibly detaining individuals near spots where mourners had left flowers and messages in support of Navalny. OVD-Info noted that the actual number of detainees could be higher than reported, as they only publish names based on reliable information.
As of now, police have declined to comment on the situation. The ongoing arrests and commemorative actions underscore the deep divisions within Russian society and the challenges faced by those critical of the current regime.
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