Tens arrested in Russia after hosts for Navajo and solidarity with Ukraine

At least 32 people were arrested in Russia on February 24th because they were paying their respects to the late Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, and were marking the two-year anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

According to the human rights group, OVD-Info, they were arrested during commemorations in nine Russian cities.

Twenty-seven of those arrested had placed wreaths of flowers in honor of Navalny, who died under unclear circumstances on February 16th in a remote Russian prison in the Arctic.

Twenty wives of Russian soldiers who were attending a rally called by a group for better treatment of the recruits were arrested along with three who were protesting the war.

Yesterday it was two years since Russia began its unprotested and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

This war has brought devastating consequences to people in Ukraine. According to data published by the United Nations in November last year, over 10,000 civilians were killed, among them over 560 children. Real figures, however, are believed to be much higher.

Russian authorities have repeatedly suppressed protests against what Moscow calls a <x0 military suboperation” in Ukraine and have arrested citizens who have opposed their fight there.

Meanwhile, in the days following the announcement of Navajo's death, Russian police have suppressed attempts to commemorate his death by dismissing his improvised memorials in several Russian cities and arresting hundreds of people.

Navalny has been the biggest critic of the Russian leader for years.

In August 2020, Navalny was poisoned with Novicok nervous agent, and that world had blamed the state camera on Putin's head for that decision.

Navalny had recovered from Germany after the poisoning, and on the day of his return to Russia, he was sent to prison. /Radio Europe Free/