On 16 February 2026, at least 19 people were detained at memorial events marking the anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s murder.

Citizens brought flowers, candles and photographs to memorial sites, including Borisovskoye Cemetery in Moscow and monuments to victims of political repression. On 16 February 2026, on the second anniversary of the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, peaceful memorial events were held in a number of Russian cities. According to independent sources, the authorities responded to these events with detentions and administrative persecution.

Ufa: mass arrests without protocols

According to OVD-Info, at least nine people were detained in Ufa. All of them were subsequently released without administrative reports being drawn up. However, most were given official warnings, which human rights activists consider to be a form of pressure and preventive intimidation aimed at restricting freedom of peaceful assembly.

Moscow: persecution of the family of an underage picketer

In Moscow, the police drew up an administrative report under the article on failure to fulfil obligations to raise a minor (Part 1 of Article 5.35 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation) against the father of a teenager who staged a solo picket at the main entrance to VDNKh. The teenager’s poster read: “Russia will be free! 16.02.2024.”

The minor participant in the picket and the journalist Grigory Potemkin, who was detained with him, were released without charges being filed. Holding a parent liable for their child’s expression of opinion raises serious questions in terms of respect for the right to freedom of expression and the prohibition of arbitrary interference in family life.

St. Petersburg: threat of arrest and denial of access to a solicitor

In St. Petersburg, 22-year-old Alexandra Churakova was detained when she attempted to leave a photograph of Navalny at a monument to victims of political repression. According to OVD-Info, she may be charged with displaying prohibited symbols (Part 1 of Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation), which carries a penalty of administrative arrest. It is reported that the detainee was not allowed to see a lawyer, which may indicate a violation of her right to defence. Earlier that day, a man who photographed the monument to victims of political repression was detained in St. Petersburg; he was subsequently released without charges.

 

Volgograd Region: collection of biometric data

One of the detainees in the Volgograd region told OVD-Info that he was photographed and fingerprinted at the police station. According to him, the police officers demonstrated knowledge of his personal history, after which he was released without charge. Such actions can be considered a form of pressure and intimidation, especially in the absence of procedural status as a suspect or accused person.

 The circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death

Alexei Navalny died on 16 February 2024 in Penal Colony IK-3 in the village of Kharp (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug), where he was serving his sentence.

On 14 February 2026, the results of an international investigation initiated by the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands were announced. According to this data, the biomaterials taken by the politician’s family contained the substance epibatidine. In a joint statement by the foreign ministries of the five countries, it was noted that, given the toxicity of the substance and the symptoms described, poisoning “was highly likely to have been the cause of death.

” The detention of participants in peaceful memorial events, the prosecution of relatives of minors, the denial of access to lawyers and the collection of biometric data without charges being brought are evidence of the continuing pressure on those exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Russia. International human rights standards oblige the state to ensure that peaceful commemorative events can be held without the threat of persecution and arbitrary

 

Based on materials from the Russian opposition press