London vigil for Alexei Navalny

Father John McGowan at Monday's vigil for Alexei Navalny

About forty people gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens, on the second anniversary of the murder of Alexei Navalny - that was about twice as many as last year. Most of those gathered in the cold and rain were Russian, they laid flowers against a wall and hung up posters. Most of them had been activists in their native land, supporting Navalny and getting arrested.

One young lady had been arrested many times, but the final straw came when armed and masked police burst into her home at 5 in the morning. She like others left Russia, but they haven't given up the fight against Putin and his corrupt regime.

It was confirmed recently that Navalny was indeed murdered, with poison from a frog only found in Ecuador!

The group shouted at the Russian Embassy: "Putin is a murderer" in both Russian and English, and "Russia will be free", quoting Navalny, who also said: "don't give up".

He is surely one of the great figures of recent times, up there with Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.

In Moscow, throughout the day, hundreds of people quietly visited Borisov cemetery and lay flowers on Navalny's grave there. Its been reported that several people were arrested there. Yet, they do not give up.

Other meetings are planned in London later this month, including one where supporters will write to political prisoners. We hope to bring you details on ICN soon.