Russian Crackdown Persists as Navalny's Wife Pays Tribute
Russian Crackdown Persists as Navalny's Wife Pays Tribute
Dozens of Alexei Navalny's supporters were detained in various Russian cities while attending events held to commemorate his death. Additionally, an independent news site alleges that signs of bruising were evident on the body of the opposition leader.
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| Police in Russia detained people mourning Navalny's death in 36 cities © REUTERS |
Russian authorities have detained over 400 individuals who took part in demonstrations commemorating the late Russian opposition figure, Alexei Navalny.
Supporters of Navalny were apprehended across 36 cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Belgorod, as they protested to honor his memory, as reported by the pro-rights group OVD-Info.
Navalny's allies have confirmed his death, yet they accuse the Russian government of withholding his body. The former lawyer, aged 47, lost consciousness and passed away on Friday following a walk at the "Polar Wolf" penal colony in Kharp, located approximately 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, where he was serving a three-decade sentence, according to the prison service.
On Sunday, Navalny's wife, Yulia, shared a picture of them together on social media accompanied by the words "I love you."
Shortly after the news of his death broke on Friday, Yulia Navalny delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference, receiving a standing ovation.
The US ambassador to Moscow visited a makeshift memorial for Alexei Navalny on Sunday, following suit from the British ambassador who visited the day prior.
Ambassador Lynne Tracy was photographed on Sunday at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument to political repression that has become a significant site for tributes to Navalny.
"Today at the Solovetsky Stone, we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia," stated the US embassy in Moscow on social media.
What additional information is available regarding Navalny's death?
The Kremlin has stated that investigations into the cause of Navalny's death are ongoing.
Navalny's relatives have not yet been permitted to see his body.
The independent Russian-language newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on Sunday that Alexei Navalny's body was located in the district hospital in the northern Siberian town of Salekhard, directly on the Arctic Circle.
As of Saturday, no autopsy had been performed on the dissident, according to the anti-government newspaper, citing an anonymous source. Novaya Gazeta, currently published from Latvia, stated that an emergency services worker had observed blue marks on the body.
The informant noted a bruise on Navalny's chest, suggesting resuscitation attempts, although they hadn't personally seen the body after death and were relaying information from colleagues.
Despite Western accusations against the Russian leadership for Navalny's death, Moscow denies any involvement. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova remarked, "There are still no results of the forensic investigation, but the West is already drawing its conclusions."
In August 2020, Navalny was treated at a Berlin hospital after being poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent, an incident the West attributed to Russian operatives. Upon his return to Russia months later, he was promptly arrested and subsequently convicted in multiple cases that his supporters allege were politically motivated.
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| Navalny's death has been mourned at vigils in several Russian cities © Dmitri Lovetsky/AP/picture alliance |
Further reactions to Navalny's death have poured in from various quarters. Human rights activists have labeled his demise as murder, drawing condemnation from leaders of several countries, including US President Joe Biden.
Biden asserted, "The fact of the matter is, Putin is responsible. Whether he ordered it, he's responsible for the circumstance. It's a reflection of who he is. It cannot be tolerated."
Ekaterina Schulmann, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, described Navalny's death as "chilling" during the Munich Security Conference, emphasizing the personal impact Navalny had on many attendees over the years. Schulmann suggested memorializing Navalny's memory, possibly through naming streets or public places in European capitals.
Regarding political action, Schulmann expressed hope that Navalny's death would underscore to world leaders the nature of the current regime in Russia and the challenges of negotiating with those who resort to murder for political ends.
Bill Browder, the American-born British co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management and a staunch critic of Putin, asserted, "Putin killed Alexei Navalny." He characterized the purpose of the murder as a warning to anyone daring to challenge Putin's authority, indicating a broader suppression of dissent in Russia.
Browder warned that Navalny's apparent targeting would further suppress and repress the Russian people, particularly ahead of the country's upcoming presidential election, where Putin is expected to secure victory.
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