Hundreds arrested in several Russian cities after Navalny's death

2024-02-17 21:46:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

At least 340 people have been arrested in at least 30 Russian cities since the death of Alexei Navalny, the country's most popular opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was announced, human rights organization OVD-Info reported.

This is the largest wave of arrests during political activities in Russia since September 2022, when more than 1,300 people were arrested during demonstrations against the "partial mobilization" of reservists for the military campaign in Ukraine.

Imprisoned lawyer Alexei Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and then died after a walk to the Arctic Wolf Prison, where he was serving a 30-year sentence, the prison service announced.

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The OVD-Info organization, which reports on the right to organize in Russia, said most of Saturday's arrests took place in St Petersburg and Moscow, where Mr Navalny's movement has traditionally been strong. 74 people were detained in St. Petersburg and 49 in Moscow, until around 3 pm local time.

Footage from the Reuters news agency on Saturday in St. Petersburg showed dozens of people gathering near a monument dedicated to the victims of the repression. Protesters laid flowers and candles, while some sang hymns and others hugged each other, shedding tears.

"I felt sorry for him and for our country," said an 83-year-old participant who declined to give her name. "I'm scared," she said.

A Reuters news agency reporter who was at the scene said about 30 people were arrested shortly after they finished singing.

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The OVD-Info organization also reported separate arrests in smaller Russian cities, from the border town of Belgorod, where seven people were killed Thursday by a Ukrainian rocket attack, to Vorkuta, an Arctic mining town where during the Stalin period there were forced labor camps.

Footage from the Reuters news agency in Moscow showed police forces herding demonstrators in the snow near where people had left flowers and messages of support for the dead opposition leader.

"There may be other detainees in the police stations besides the published lists", said the organization OVD-Info. "We only publish the names of people we have reliable knowledge of and the names we can publish."

Reuters could not independently verify these figures. The Russian police refused to comment./ VOA