Amidst a wave of mourning following the death of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, over 400 individuals have been detained across Russia, according to a prominent rights group.
Navalny’s sudden passing at a remote Arctic penal colony has deeply affected many Russians, who viewed him as a symbol of hope and a staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin’s administration. Despite surviving a nerve agent poisoning and enduring multiple prison sentences, Navalny continued to vocally oppose the Kremlin.
The news of Navalny’s demise sparked widespread tributes across the country, with hundreds of people gathering at impromptu memorials in numerous cities to honor his memory. However, these gatherings were met with a heavy-handed response from authorities, resulting in over 400 detentions, as reported by the OVD-Info rights group.
St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, witnessed the highest number of arrests, including that of Grigory Mikhnov-Voitenko, a priest of the Apostolic Orthodox Church. Mikhnov-Voitenko was detained for planning a memorial service for Navalny and later hospitalized with a stroke while in police custody.
In response to the detentions, courts in St. Petersburg handed down jail sentences ranging from one to six days to 42 individuals, with others receiving fines. Similar sentences were imposed in Moscow, Krasnodar, and Bryansk, underscoring the nationwide crackdown on Navalny supporters.
Questions surrounding the cause of Navalny’s death persist, with his team alleging foul play and accusing authorities of delaying the release of his body. Despite official claims of “sudden death syndrome,” Navalny’s associates remain skeptical, pointing to the lack of transparency surrounding his demise.
Navalny’s passing comes amidst a crucial presidential election in Russia, raising concerns about its potential impact on the country’s political landscape. His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has demanded accountability from Putin and his government, signaling a continuation of the struggle against perceived injustices.
