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.
People light candles in tribute to Alexiei Navalny in front of the Russian Consulate General in ... [+]
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.
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.