Russian police have detained more than 100 people who attended vigils and rallies across the country in support of Alexei Navalny, the jailed opposition leader and Kremlin critic, according to a human rights group.
Navalny, who was arrested in January 2021 after returning from Germany, where he was treated for nerve-agent poisoning, died in prison on February 16, 2024. His associates and supporters have accused the Russian authorities of denying him adequate medical care and deliberately causing his death.
Navalny, who rose to prominence by exposing official corruption and organizing massive anti-Kremlin protests, was serving a combined prison sentence of more than 11 years for fraud and contempt of court charges that he said were politically motivated.
He was also facing a new trial on extremism charges that could have kept him in jail for three more decades. Navalny had also condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and encouraged anti-war demonstrations.
On February 17, 2024, Navalny’s birthday, his supporters marked the occasion by holding individual protests, laying flowers, and carrying posters with his image and slogans. Police arrested at least 109 people in 23 cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, as of 10:42 p.m. Moscow time, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors political repression in Russia.
Some detained people were released, while others faced administrative charges or fines. The Moscow prosecutor’s office had warned earlier that any unauthorized gatherings would be considered illegal and participants would be arrested.
Navalny’s death has sparked international condemnation and calls for sanctions against Russia. The United States, the European Union, and other countries have accused the Kremlin of being responsible for Navalny’s poisoning and death and demanded an independent investigation.
The Kremlin has denied any involvement and dismissed the allegations as baseless. It has also accused Navalny’s allies of being agents of foreign powers and extremists who seek to destabilize Russia.
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