Quick Bytes
- Memorial flowers for Alexei Navalny, Putin’s prominent critic, cleared away.
- Navalny passed away in a Russian penal colony last Friday.
- Removal of tributes captured on social media, police presence observed.
Remembering Alexei Navalny
In a somber turn of events, Alexei Navalny, a well-known adversary of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has died. Navalny’s passing occurred within the confines of a Russian penal colony, where he had been detained. Following his death, supporters gathered to lay floral tributes in his honor.
However, these symbols of remembrance and respect were swiftly removed under the cover of darkness. Eyewitness accounts and video footage shared on various Russian social media platforms depict unidentified groups dismantling the makeshift memorials. Notably, during this act of erasure, law enforcement officers were reportedly present, overseeing the situation without intervening.
The clearing of Navalny’s tributes has sparked reactions across the globe, highlighting the tense political climate in Russia and the government’s stance towards dissent. Navalny’s role as a vocal critic of Putin’s administration had made him a significant figure in the opposition movement, and his death marks a poignant moment in contemporary Russian history.