Over 400 Detained as Russians Defy Authorities to Mourn Alexei Navalny

Moscow: Following the passing of Alexei Navalny, a prominent figure in Russian opposition, a wave of protests and arrests has swept across 32 cities in Russia, with over 400 individuals detained, as reported by rights group OVD-Info. This marks the largest surge of arrests at political gatherings since September 2022. Navalny, aged 47, passed away after falling unconscious during a walk at the ‘Polar Wolf’ Arctic penal colony, where he was serving a lengthy sentence.

Most detentions occurred in St Petersburg and Moscow, strongholds of Navalny’s support. However, Russian state news agencies, controlled by the Kremlin, have remained silent on these events. Despite this, hundreds of individuals across Russia continue to defy authorities by laying flowers at impromptu Navalny memorials.

The passing of Navalny leaves the Russian opposition without its most prominent leader, as President Vladimir Putin gears up for the upcoming presidential election in March. In St Petersburg, footage captured by Reuters showed mourners gathering at a monument to pay their respects, with some individuals subsequently arrested by authorities.

OVD-Info also documented individual arrests in smaller cities, demonstrating widespread sentiment across the country. Notably, in Luhansk, a Ukrainian territory under Russian control, residents paid tribute to Navalny at a monument dedicated to victims of Joseph Stalin’s regime.

Despite authorities’ efforts to remove flowers laid in Navalny’s honour, they continue to appear across various cities, indicating enduring public support.