Vigils and rallies were held in cities across Russia and in many world capitals to remember Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony.
Protest monitoring group OVD-Info said Saturday that more than 170 people were detained at memorials across Russia paying tribute to the 47-year-old politician who was a prominent opponent of President Vladimir Putin. Announced.
Federal prison authorities said Navalny passed away on Friday while walking at the Polar Wolf penal colony, where he was serving a 19-year sentence, sparking sadness and shock among his supporters around the world. erupted, and the people voiced their criticism. world leaders.
In the capital Moscow, most of the hundreds of flowers and candles dedicated to Mr Navalny were taken away overnight in black bags. Videos and photos shared on Russian social media also showed flowers being removed from monuments commemorating victims of Soviet-era repression across the country.
Protests are illegal in Russia under strict anti-government laws, and authorities have cracked down particularly hard on rallies supporting Mr. Navalny.
World leaders said the Russian government was responsible for the deaths. Vigils in memory of Mr. Navalny were held in capitals from Tbilisi, Georgia, and Berlin to Washington, D.C., and London, along with protests in front of Russian embassies.
