Four days after the funeral of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who died in the infamous ‘Polar Wolf’ prison, participants of the ceremony continue to be arrested in the Russian capital Moscow. They are now being traced via surveillance cameras.
Unlike the poorer regions of Russia, the metropolis of Moscow is flashy, noisy, modern and high-tech. The news from the largest country in the world in terms of surface area repeatedly shows the pitfalls this entails for the population in the increasingly totalitarian country. For example, the capital’s facial recognition system is so networked and advanced that “you can track every person right to the front door,” explains Dmitri Anisimov, press spokesperson for the non-governmental organization OWD-Info.
Despite these circumstances and despite the Kremlin’s threatening gestures, at least 16,500 people attended the funeral, Beli Shyotchik reports. But in the days that followed, crowds continued to make pilgrimages to the grave of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s greatest enemy. Guards with magazines stood next to Navalny’s resting place, but allowed mourners to lay flowers.
Revenge from an ambush
Revenge ‘from above’ now comes from an ambush. On Monday evening, a Muscovite woman was picked up by the police from her home and taken to the station, OWD-Info reports. According to reports, the frightened Russian woman had to spend the entire night there. The reason: She was recorded on a surveillance camera at Navalny’s funeral when she allegedly shouted “Glory to the heroes.”
The woman had to endure all the intimidation. The entire time she was denied access to the toilet. The officials also shouted at her, insulted her, laughed at her and forced her to remove her nose piercing – otherwise they would simply rip it out, Putin’s “security forces” threatened.
Man was intercepted right in front of the front door
Two more Russians were arrested on Tuesday morning. One of them was Yegor K. He was watched by the officers when he left his apartment. When he arrived at the police station, he was told that he had been located through the surveillance cameras. His behavior was extensively documented and his passport was also confiscated.
OWD-Info had warned in advance that the prosecution of the funeral participants would not be limited to the ceremony itself. Russian police have been using surveillance cameras since 2021 so they can use the data to hold people accountable later.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
