Romanians in Bucharest Honor Alexei Navalny
Romanians gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Bucharest to pay tribute to Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned opposition politician who defied the Kremlin and died in detention.
People laid flowers and candles, as well as photos of Navalny bearing the message "Don't give up!" – the rallying cry he left for Russians should he be assassinated.
"We, the Romanians, support democracy. We are a free country and we want to remain so. We stand with those fighting for democracy, even when it carries a grave cost – a lesson embodied by the courageous Alexei Navalny," one attendee declared.
Another compared Navalny to Laszlo Tokes, whose defiance sparked the Romanian revolution. "When Navalny returned to Russia, he wanted to ignite a similar uprising. Sadly, many Russians remain hesitant. Perhaps his death, and his final video message, will finally awaken them."
While death may signal a turning point, one man admitted change will be slow. "It's hard to rouse a people who have endured decades of dictatorship. But Navalny's needless death starkly exposes the regime's brutality."
Despite warnings from Russian authorities, many in Moscow bravely defied orders against memorial demonstrations. Police cracked down on those gathered, with a human rights organisation reporting at least 100 arrests in Moscow alone.
Across Europe, including Poland, France, and Great Britain, tributes to Navalny continue. Protesters gather outside Russian embassies, holding placards that condemn Putin for the dissident's death.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
