Hundreds of people have demonstrated at the Russian embassy in London following the death of Vladimir Putin’s opponent Alexei Navalny.
Protesters chanting slogans critical of Putin gathered outside the embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens next to Hyde Park this evening.
People were heard saying: ‘Putin is a murderer’, ‘the war must stop’ and ‘love is stronger than war’.
At one point, protesters simultaneously raised their phones to show their respect for the 47-year-old.
Russian news media today announced Navalny’s death – citing the Siberian prison where he served his sentence – but did not provide a cause of death or further information.
The news caused shock and anger around the world, with world leaders and commentators quick to point the finger at the Kremlin.
Navalny was “brutally murdered by the Kremlin”, Latvia’s president declared, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was “clear” that Putin had ordered the dissident’s killing.
Hundreds of people have marched on the Russian embassy in London following the death of Vladimir Putin’s opponent Alexei Navalny.
Russian news media today announced the 47-year-old’s death – citing the Siberian prison where he served his sentence – but did not provide a cause of death or further information.
Protesters chanting slogans critical of Putin gathered outside the embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens next to Hyde Park this evening
Navalny was “brutally murdered by the Kremlin”, Latvia’s president declared, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was “clear” that Putin had ordered the dissident’s killing.
Victor, who moved to London after the war in Ukraine started, said at the protest: ‘We are here to support his family and to show his family that they are not alone.
‘Russia is against the war, regardless of the propaganda’
Andrew from London also spoke to Mailonline and added: ‘I wanted to do something. There’s not much I can do, but we’re showing that we care.
‘We want to show with his death that his ideas do not die and that we commemorate.’
Maria said: ‘We still have loved ones in Russia and it is painful to see what the country is doing and you cannot remain silent
Red paint has been smeared on a sign at the entrance to the Russian embassy amid protests
Members of the Russian diaspora protest outside the Russian embassy against the sudden death of Alexi Navalny
“He was a symbol of what we’re all fighting against. It has ruined one of our greatest hopes for us.
‘This is just the tip of the iceberg. People go to jail for nothing.”
The protest in London follows similar demonstrations in cities across Europe.
In Berlin, 500 to 600 people gathered in front of the Russian embassy and chanted “Putin is a murderer” in a mixture of Russian, German and English.
Groups also met in Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, among others.
The wife of outspoken Putin opponent Alexei Navalny has declared that Vladimir Putin “will be responsible” for her husband’s death in custody and vowed that the Russian president’s “evil regime” will soon fall.
FILE – Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gestures while standing in a cage in the Babuskinsky District Court in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, February 20, 2021
This photo, taken from a video released by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, shows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny via video link from the Arctic Penal Colony in Kharp, Kovrov, Russia, on February 15, 2024
In Berlin, 500 to 600 people gathered in front of the Russian embassy and chanted “Putin is a murderer” in a mixture of Russian, German and English.
Protesters hold a vigil in Berlin to demonstrate against Navalny’s death announced today
In a defiant and emotional speech at the Munich Security Conference today, Yuliya Navalnaya held back tears and declared: “(Navalny) would have been here, in this room.
“I don’t know if you believe the terrible news we received – only from Russian state sources. Because we can’t believe Putin and his government for years, they always lie.
“But if it is true, I want Putin, his entire team and all his friends to know that this will bring accountability for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband. That day will come very soon.
“And I call on the international community, the people in this room and people around the world that we fight and defeat this evil, this terrible regime in Russia led by Vladimir Putin. They must be held personally responsible for all the terrible things they have done to us.”