Police in Russia have cracked down on people who gathered to mark the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, with a human rights group claiming at least 100 people have been arrested.
Snapshots and photos from the two largest cities in Russia – Moscow and St. Petersburg — showed officers tearing down protesters' signs and dragging others away from makeshift memorials to Mr. Navalny.
The journalists were also photographed being detained at the site in Moscow, which was set up at a memorial to victims of Soviet repression.
One of the women at the site told Sky News: “Everything that has happened during these years, on the lands of my beloved country, is a disgrace.”
Another added: “I'm angry of course. They finally killed him.”
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“I feel ashamed of my country”
According to Russian human rights group OVD-info, at least 100 people were detained in eight cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg and Krasnodar, during rallies to commemorate Navalny's death.
Although police did not provide any details about the arrests, Russian prosecutors warned against participating in any mass protest in Moscow.
And yet comes Imprisoned exhibitionist Mr. Navalny, one of the president's most prominent critics Russian President Vladimir Putin Who campaigned against official corruption and led major anti-Kremlin protests Prison authorities in Russia confirmed his death on Fridayat the age of 47 years.
A woman who laid flowers for Alexei Navalny is being detained in St. Petersburg. Photo: AP
Police officers also arrested a man at a makeshift memorial in St Petersburg. Photo: AP
Protests across Europe
Protests were also held outside Russia, including inside the country LondonPeople carrying pictures of Navalny's face demonstrated outside the Russian embassy near Notting Hill.
One protest participant, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I want Russia to become a country that is respected around the world.
“I want to love my country’s flag. But that is not possible today because the flag represents war.”
Alexei Navalny appears via video link from the Arctic penal colony where he was detained before his death. Photo: AP
Alexei Navalny, pictured in court in 2021. Image: AP
In Berlin, hundreds gathered near the Russian embassy chanting in a mix of Russian, German and English, including “Putin to The Hague.”
In Lithuania, formerly run from Moscow but now a member of NATO and the European Union, mourners placed flowers and candles next to Navalny's photo.
“He was always with us, so it was surreal,” said Leosia Stein, 26, a Pussy Riot activist who has lived in Vilnius since leaving Russia in 2022.
Groups also gathered in cities including Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Sofia, Geneva, The Hague and others.
Protesters gathered outside the Russian embassy in London after the death of Alexei Navalny.
Protests also took place in Berlin, Germany. Photo: AP
A person places a candle at a makeshift memorial for Alexei Navalny in Montreal, Canada. Photo: AP
The reaction of world leaders
Meanwhile, world leaders responded to news of Navalny's death, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blaming Putin.
“It is clear that he was killed by Putin,” he said during a visit to the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
He added: “Putin does not care who dies, only to keep his position. That is why he must not keep anything. Putin must lose everything and be responsible for his actions.”
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Journalists arrested after Navalny's death
The president is ours Joe Biden Washington does not know exactly what happened, “but there is no doubt that Navalny's death was the result of something done by Putin and his thugs,” Washington said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose country temporarily received Navalny in 2020 after he was poisoned with a nerve agent, praised the Kremlin critic's courage and said his death showed “what kind of regime this is.” [In Russia]”.
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“For many years we have been unable to trust Putin and Putin's government. They always lie,” his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, told a security conference in Munich.
He added, “But if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around him to know that they will be held accountable for everything they did to our country, and to my family. And that day will come very soon.”
“I want to call on the international community and all people to unite and defeat this evil.”
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“Navalny's courage will not be forgotten.”
Britain summons the Russian ambassador
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Lord CameronHe said Putin must be held accountable, and said there must be “consequences” for the Russian president.
Foreign Ministry officials summoned the Russian ambassador “to make clear that we hold the Russian authorities fully responsible.”
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Navalny was serving a 19-year prison sentence on extremism charges in a remote penal colony above the Arctic Circle at the time of his death.
He has been behind bars since his return from Germany in January 2021, where he served time on various charges that he dismissed as a politically motivated attempt to keep him in prison for life.
Russian prison authorities said Navalny felt unwell after his outing on Friday and lost consciousness.
According to the service, the efforts of the medical staff to revive him failed.
