Closing summary
We’re closing our live coverage now of events following Friday’s death in Russia of the opposition leader and pro-democracy activist Alexei Navalny, one of Vladimir Putin’s most vocal critics who was serving a lengthy prison term in an Arctic penal colony.
Russian prison authorities said Navalny, who was 47, collapsed and died suddenly after “a walk”, despite him appearing gaunt but otherwise in good health and joking during an online court appearance only hours before.
Joe Biden led a wave of global outrage, the US president blaming Navalny’s death on Putin “and his thugs”. The European Union said Navalny was “slowly murdered” by the Putin regime; and the UK government summoned Russian embassy staff and demanded a full and transparent investigation.
Meanwhile, dozens of protestors were arrested at vigils and other celebrations of Navalny’s life in numerous Russian cities, human rights observers said.
Thanks for joining us today. You can read Shaun Walker’s analysis of Alexei Navalny’s death here, and please also take a read of Pjotr Sauer’s report on the dissident’s years-long persecution here:
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'Dozens arrested' in Russia protests
Human rights observers report at least 73 arrests by authorities across Russia at vigils and other commemorations.
Dmitry Anisimov, spokesperson for OVD-Info, told CNN on Friday that it is likely even more people have been detained. The group reported detentions in numerous Russian cities, including Murmansk, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod and St Petersburg.
Russian official issued a warning earlier on Friday that any demonstrations in Moscow were not authorized, and anybody taking part was liable to arrest.
Video filmed on Friday evening showed police in the capital ripping placards away from attendees, and arresting at least one person.
Here’s another look at some video we posted earlier:
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