ALBAWABA - Russian police detained on Sunday at least 400 people who held a tribute to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Sunday.
In more than 12 cities, the Russian police arrested 401 people by Saturday night, the OVD-Info rights group which reports political arrests and provides legal aid said.
The rights group further noted that over 200 arrests were conducted in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city.
AFP reported that the US ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy paid tribute to Alexei Navalny by visiting his shrine on Sunday.
Furthermore, the US embassy in Moscow wrote online: "Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia."
The Russian Federal Prison Service (FSIN) confirmed on Friday the death of Russian opposition figure Navalny, 47, in the penal colony.
According to FSIN, Navalny fell ill and lost consciousness after going for a walk on Feb. 16 in Penal Colony No. 3. It added that in spite of all efforts by prison healthcare workers, Navalny wasn't saved.
After Navanly's death, US President Joe Biden blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the opposition leader's passing. Biden said that he was "outraged" but "not surprised" by the news.
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley, former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor, posted on her X account: "One week ago, Donald Trump encouraged Putin to invade NATO countries. Now, it’s been more than 24 hours since we learned of the death of Alexei Navalny, and Trump has yet to say his name. We cannot have a president who sides with murderous thugs who want to destroy America."
