Differences in opinion or behavior leading to arguments or clashes. - Navalny Memorial Service in Moscow disrupted by a SWAT team
In Moscow, Russia's capital, police officers have cracked down on supporters of deceased Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who gathered for a modest memorial event on his birthday.
Members of a special unit stormed a venue in the city's northeastern region on Tuesday night where around 30 people were present to watch a live broadcast of a Navalny memorial concert in Berlin, according to the non-profit organization OVD-Info. Consequently, nearly 30 individuals were detained, searched, and questioned. A short clip of the incident published by the media platform "Sota" reveals several officers with their faces covered approaching the attendees.
Navalny, who would have been 48 years old on Tuesday, was one of Vladimir Putin's most vocal critics while he was alive. After his unfortunate death in a prison in remote northern Russia in February, his relatives and following have labeled him a political prisoner. His death is shrouded in mystery, with some speculating that it was an assassination as he had barely survived a nerve agent attack in the summer of 2020, leaving him in frail health.
During Navalny's funeral three months ago, an unexpected crowd of thousands of people assembled in Moscow despite the ongoing repression. Typically, protests are quickly suppressed by the authorities, who hastily arrest protesters.
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The memorial concert for Alexei Navalny, held in Berlin, Germany, served as a beacon of unity for his supporters, despite his controversial passing in a Russian prison. However, the peace was disrupted when a special task force from Moscow's police force intervened during a live broadcast of the event, leading to the detention and questioning of nearly 30 individuals. This incident raises concerns about human rights and freedom of assembly in Russia, which has been marked by conflicts and disagreements with Western nations, particularly Germany, over war-related issues and Navalny's political status.
Many believe that Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was a political prisoner, his death shrouded in mystery following a poisoning attack in 2020. His funeral three months prior saw an unprecedented crowd of thousands gather in Moscow, defying repressive measures and eventually being met with swift arrests by authorities.
This latest event in Moscow is another instance where tensions between Russia and the international community that upholds democratic values and human rights intensify, giving testament to the complex and enduring conflicts between the two worlds.
