Russia: Over 150 people were sentenced for actions honoring the memory of the opponent Navalnyi
The Russian justice sentenced to prison this weekend at least 150 people arrested during the activities to honor the memory of the opponent Aleksei Navalnyi on the grounds that they violated the strict legislation that applies to the demonstrations, reports AFP, quoted by Agerpres
People laid flowers in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the monument to the victims of political repression in St. PetersburgPhoto: SOPA Images / ddp USA / Profimedia
Only in Saint Petersburg, on Saturday and Sunday, the judges sentenced 154 of the arrested persons to up to 14 days in prison, according to the decisions made public by the press service of the courts in this city.
Human rights groups and independent media reported several similar convictions in other cities.
Aleksei Navalnyi died on Friday, at the age of 47, in a penitentiary colony in the Arctic region. His relatives on Saturday described the Russian authorities as “murderers” who are trying to “cover their tracks” for refusing to hand over the body to them, with the Kremlin remaining silent despite accusations from the West and rallies in tribute to the Russian opponent.
In dozens of cities, police arrested hundreds of Russians who went to lay flowers and light candles in honor of the opposition at memorials for victims of Stalinist-era repression.
