- Navalny’s attorney apprehended
- Charges of “extremism” widespread
- Memorial location sought
The attorney for the deceased Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who was incarcerated earlier this month, was reportedly apprehended in Moscow.
According to Russian media outlets, Vasily Dubkov was apprehended on suspicion of “obstructing public order.”
Mr. Dubkov accompanied his mother to the Arctic penal colony, where he passed away on February 16, following the demise of Navalny.
The Russian authorities have not confirmed Mr. Dubkov’s detention as yet.
Other attorneys for Navalny, Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin, and Aleksei Lipster, were detained on “extremism” charges in October 2023.
Olga Mikhailova, an additional attorney for the opposition leader, announced in January that she, too, had been indicted for the identical offence and had chosen to continue her exile.
Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation was prohibited by Russian authorities in 2021 on charges of “extremism.”
The prison authorities retained the remains of the opposition leader for over a week subsequent to his demise. In the company of Mr. Dubkov, his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, travelled to the remote “Polar Wolf” prison where he perished to retrieve his remains.
His mother was granted custody of his remains eight days following his demise. Mrs. Navalnaya claimed that authorities threatened her because they desired that her son be interred “in secret.”
Navalny’s supporters have stated that they are in search of a location to erect a public memorial in his honour.
Kira Yarmysh, the press secretary for Navalny, stated on Tuesday. The majority of funeral homes they had contacted had denied permission for a ceremony to be held on their premises.
“While certain establishments assert that the premises are occupied, others decline when Navalny is mentioned. At one location, we were informed explicitly that collaboration with funeral agencies was not permitted,” Ms. Yarmysh wrote.
