Security forces began issuing “warnings to Russians about the inadmissibility of participating in illegal mass rallies” as flowers were laid in memory of Navalny

Moscow police began issuing warnings about the “inadmissibility of participation in illegal mass actions” after laying flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny, Novaya-Europa learned.

Some activists who had previously been brought to administrative responsibility under “protest articles”, for example, under Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences, were given verbal and written warnings by police officers. The documents do not indicate what specific actions the security forces are warning against participation in.

“These actions create conditions for the commission of an unlawful act, liability for which is provided for in Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation,” the text of the warning says.

On the afternoon of February 17, flower-laying events will be held in many Russian cities in memory of Navalny. In Moscow, the action will take place at the Wall of Sorrow monument on Sakharov Avenue.

On the afternoon of February 16, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug announced the death of politician Alexei Navalny. According to the department, the politician felt unwell after a walk and lost consciousness. A source from propaganda RT reported that the politician allegedly lost a blood clot. Navalny's supporters said they have no information about the politician's death.

After the news of Navalny's death, rallies were held in dozens of Russian cities in memory of the politician. According to anthropologist Alexandra Arkhipova, in 92 Russian cities people carried flowers and created memorials.

“128 memorials, almost all of them - 98% near monuments to victims of political repression,” Arkhipova shared.

According to OVD -Info, security forces detained more than 100 people at rallies in memory of Alexei Navalny. According to human rights activists, detentions took place in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Tver, Murmansk and other cities of Russia.

OVD-Info notes that journalist Yulia Petrova, Novaya Gazeta photographer Alexei Dushutin and RusNews correspondent Elina Kozich were released from police departments without drawing up reports. Also in Nizhny Novgorod, 12 detained residents were released from OP No. 5.