During the laying of flowers at the memorial for the deceased opposition figure Alexei Navalny, over 400 individuals were detained in 32 Russian cities. The largest number of arrests occurred in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
This information was reported by the Russian human rights group "OVD-Info."
As of 22:00 Kiev time on Saturday, February 17, over 200 individuals were detained in St. Petersburg. Dozens of people gathered near the monument to the victims of repression in the city. Protesters laid flowers and candles, some sang anthems, while others, with tears in their eyes, embraced each other.
"I am very sorry for him and our country. I am scared," said an 83-year-old woman who attended the gathering but declined to give her name.
"OVD-Info" also reported separate arrests in smaller cities across Russia, from the border town of Belgorod to Vorkuta.
The online publication SOTA reported that in the occupied city of Luhansk, residents laid flowers in honor of Navalny at a monument dedicated to the victims of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
