Over 100 arrests

Dozens of arrests already in Russia

Lots of police were deployed.(Bild: APA/AFP/Alexander NEMENOV)

Thousands of people paid their last respects to the slain Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny in Moscow on Friday - even though they knew they were putting life and limb at risk. But they also showed their grief in public places in other Russian cities. More and more arrests are now being reported.

"Let's go to the cemetery," shouted a man at the church fence in Moscow. A huge crowd of people pushed past the large number of police. The security forces were equipped to the hilt - with balaclavas, helmets, batons and knee pads. Plenty of prisoner transporters were on standby, reports the exile media outlet "Meduza". According to reports, however, the people were unimpressed and shouted with conviction: "Heroes don't die!"

It is now clear that, as had already been feared, many people were arrested. The non-governmental organization OWD-Info has counted more than 128 arrests across the country in connection with the demonstrations of mourning. However, it explicitly points out that there could be significantly more arrests. OWD-Info only records those arrests that are clearly verifiable and where the names of those involved can be disclosed.

Most of the arrests took place in Novosibirsk, the organization explained on the online service Telegram on Friday. They were taken away in a prisoner transporter - just because they had laid flowers. According to the statement, 17 people were taken away by police in Moscow:

Police wanted to recruit journalists
Independent Russian journalist Vasily Polonsky, who continues to work in Moscow despite all the dangers, covered Navalny's funeral live on location throughout the day.

According to BBC Russia, he was also detained. However, he is now a free man again. As he reveals, the police forced him to show them his cell phone. The security forces even tried to recruit him and obtain recordings of him.

Kremlin still feels threatened
Even after his death, Navalny makes the power apparatus extremely nervous. This is because Putin's authorities fear that supporters of the opposition leader could protest against the Russian president. According to OWD-Info, 400 people have already been arrested at mourning rallies for the Kremlin critic since Navalny's death. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned on Friday that every citizen bears responsibility for participating in unauthorized actions on the streets. At the same time, when asked by a Russian journalist whether the Kremlin had anything to say about Navalny's death, he replied: "No, nothing."