Russia sees nationwide protests after Navalny's death, nearly 300 arrested
10:33 AM EST, February 17, 2024
The arrests have been reported by OVD-Info, a Russian human rights watchdog. Based on a statement they released at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, Russian authorities have arrested close to 300 individuals in 25 Russian cities.
Protests in Russia following Navalny's death
Peaceful protests began on Friday evening after news of Alexei Navalny's demise circulated globally. In response to the possibility of unrest, the Moscow Prosecution released a statement warning of criminal action against those calling for participation in "unauthorized mass events". According to the news outlet Baza, services in major cities have been placed on "emergency status".
More than 100 arrests were made in St. Petersburg alone.
Location of Navalny's body remains unknown
The exact circumstances surrounding Alexei Navalny's death are yet to be clarified. Ivan Zhdanov, a close Navalny associate and the head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, posted on Twitter on Saturday. He revealed that Navalny’s mother and his lawyer were informed by the penal colony that Navalny had died from "sudden death syndrome". The whereabouts of his body are still unknown.
Earlier on Saturday, Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, stated that the Russian authorities have ordered a second autopsy, with results expected next week. The body will not be returned to the family until the conclusion of the investigation, reports Reuters.
AFP reports that Navalny's colleagues are accusing Russian investigators of lying to prevent the release of the opposition leader's body. As Yarmysh posted on Twitter: "It's evident that they're resorting to lies and going to great lengths to avoid releasing the body".
