Russian justice sentenced to prison this weekend at least 150 people arrested during events commemorating the memory of adversary Alexei Navalny, on the grounds that they violated the strict law that applies to demonstrations, according to AFP, as quoted by Agerpres

In St. Petersburg alone, on Saturday and Sunday, judges sentenced 154 arrested persons to 14 days in prison, according to decisions published by the press service of the city’s courts.

Human rights groups and independent media reported several similar sentences in other cities.

Oleksiy Navalny died on Friday at the age of 47 in a penal colony in the Arctic. His relatives on Saturday described Russian authorities as “murderers” who are trying to “cover their tracks” as they refuse to hand over the body and the Kremlin remains silent despite Western accusations and rallies in honor of the Russian opponent. .

In dozens of cities, the police arrested hundreds of Russians who went to lay flowers and light candles in honor of the opposition to the memorials to the victims of Stalin’s repressions.

Anti-Kremlin protests and other public actions against the regime are illegal in Russia, particularly under legislation that prohibits unauthorized gatherings.

Police and people in civilian clothes patrolled dozens of Russian cities where people gathered to honor the memory of Alexei Navalny. They were especially seen at night, when memorial signs were removed. Hooded men were seen placing flowers in garbage bags on the bridge near the Kremlin, where another prominent opponent of Vladimir Putin, Boris Nemtsov, was assassinated in 2015.