More than 110 people have been arrested in Russia at events in memory of Alexei Navalny, according to human rights group OVD-Info.
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Navalny, 47, was one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's fiercest opponents and died Friday in the Polar Wolf penal colony, where he was serving a 30-year sentence.
OVD-Info, which tracks the protests in Russia, reported that more than 110 people in 13 cities had been detained for participating in spontaneous rallies as of 09:36 (Greek time) today. At least 69 of them were arrested in St. Petersburg. Another 15 were arrested at noon at a rally in Moscow, according to independent media outlet Sota.
"In each police station there may be more detainees than mentioned in the published lists. We only publish the names of people for whom they have reliable sources and we can announce their names," he added.
Reuters was unable to verify this account.
The hundreds of flowers and candles left by passers-by in Moscow on Friday in memory of Navalny were removed overnight in black bags. But several dozen roses and carnations remained on the soft snow at the memorial to the victims of Soviet oppression in the shadow of the former KGB headquarters in Lubyanka Square. Many Russians spoke of their despair, but others appeared apathetic about Navalny's death.
Vladimir Nikitin, 36, left a carnation while police officers watched. When Reuters asked him for an interview, he preferred to speak in an underpass, fearing arrest. "Navalny's death is terrible. Hopes were dashed," Nikitin said. "He was a very serious, brave man and now he is no longer with us. He was telling the truth and that was very dangerous because some people don't like the truth," he added.
Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Western leaders' reactions were unacceptable and "absolutely extreme."
