Topline
Russian authorities have more than 400 people across the country participating in public gatherings mourning the death of Alexei Navalny—the opposition leader and fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin—who suddenly died in prison last week.
Key Facts
According to the independent Russian human rights group OVD-info, 387 people were detained across 39 Russian cities between Friday and Sunday, and 28 others have been taken into custody across 15 cities on Monday morning.
Russian officials appear to have primarily targeted gatherings in St. Petersburg, where at least 216 have been detained, and in the capital Moscow, where 64 have been taken in.
On its Telegram feed, the rights group said police were beating some of the detainees, and seizing their devices.
Authorities have cracked down on any sign of support for the deceased opposition leader, as people carrying Navalny’s photos in their bags or laying a flower at a memorial have been targeted, the New York Times reports.
Russia’s state-controlled media has shown no coverage of the memorials and the arrests, with coverage on the matter mainly focusing on criticism of the Western reaction to Navalny’s death.
Key Background
Last week, Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service announced Navalny had died in prison. The agency claimed that Navalny lost consciousness after complaining about feeling unwell and the prison facilities medical team was unable to revive him. Navalny’s supporters and Western leaders have raised doubts about Russia’s version of the story, with many holding the Kremlin and Putin directly responsible for his death. The fierce Putin critic was serving multiple prison sentences at the time of his death, including a 19-year term handed to him in August last year after a court found him guilty of extremism. He was being held in the notorious “Polar Wolf” prison located in the Arctic autonomous region of Yamal-Nenets.
Crucial Quote
Navalny’s team has lashed out at Russian authorities, accusing them of hiding the deceased opposition leader’s body. On Monday, Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said: “Early in the morning, Alexei’s mother and lawyers arrived at the morgue. They are not allowed inside. One of the lawyers was literally pushed out. When asked if Alexei’s body is there, the employees do not answer.” Navalny’s mother and lawyers were told: “the investigation of the death of Navalny has been extended. They don’t say how long it will take. The cause of death is still ‘unknown.’”
Tangent
This is the largest crackdown carried out against Russian citizens since authorities detained at least 1,386 people protesting against Putin’s efforts to mobilize more troops to support the invasion of Ukraine in September 2022. OVD reports that a total 19,855 people have been detained for participating in anti-war protests since February 2022.
Further Reading
Putin Critic Alexei Navalny Has Died, Russian Prison Service Says (Forbes)
Navalny Spokesperson Says Putin Foe ‘Murdered’—Claims Russia Keeping Body From Family (Forbes)