The Russian Prosecutor's Office has issued a stark message to the nation's citizens following the announcement of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Earlier in the day, it was reported that Navalny had died. The penal service stated that he was declared dead after several attempts at resuscitation, with no official cause of death yet provided.
In response to the news, the Russian Prosecutor's Office has now issued a warning to the country's population against protesting.
This was reported by Sky News.
"A Need to Warn"
Calls to take to the streets of Moscow in protest have been growing on social media.
The Prosecutor's Office is combating these calls by releasing an official statement.
"In light of the spread on the internet, including on social networks, of calls for an unspecified number of people to participate in a mass action in central Moscow, the Moscow Prosecutor's Office deems it necessary to warn about the illegality of violating the law," the authority stated.
Risk of Arrest
The statement further explains that those who participate in or call for "unauthorized mass actions" risk being arrested.
Many have visited memorial sites to honor Navalny's legacy, while reports indicate that protests are occurring in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
Navalny's Wife Appeals
In the wake of her husband's death, Alexei Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has made an appeal to the international community.
"I would like to call upon the entire international community, all people around the world. We should unite and we should fight against this evil. We should combat this terrible regime in Russia today. This regime, and Vladimir Putin personally, should be held accountable for all the atrocities they have committed in our country," she emphasized, according to CNN.
Previous Statement
In a previous statement, Alexei had conveyed a message in case something were to happen to him.
"My message for the situation when I'm killed is very simple: do not give up," he said.
