International
Police detain dozens amid farewell to vavalny across Russia
Tension flared up once again in Port-au-Prince with shootouts erupting between the police and armed gangs, following a day of apparent calm in the Haitian capital after a violent previous day that saw at least five dead and scores injured.
According to the latest report from the Haitian Police Union, at least 56 individuals were detained in fourteen cities across the country during the farewell day for the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was buried two weeks after his death in an Arctic prison.
According to OVD-Info, an organization advocating for the rights of detainees, the cities with the highest number of detentions were Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Moscow, with 14, 10, and 6 arrests respectively.
Police also conducted arrests in Voronezh, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladikavkaz, St. Petersburg, Ulan-Ude, and Sochi, among others.
Among those detained was the vice president of the Moscow branch of the opposition party Yabloko, Andrey Morev, who was arrested by police in the Moscow metro after the burial, according to OVD-Info.
Morev, who was taken into custody along with a colleague at the Marino station near the cemetery, has not yet been charged, according to a statement he made to the Mozhem Obiasnit (We Can Explain) Telegram channel.
Two other individuals were arrested near the cemetery, according to journalist Alexander Plyuschev and the Avtozak Live Telegram channel, which reports on detentions.
One of them was reportedly detained after shouting, “Who killed Navalny?”
Multitudes gathered to bid farewell to Navalny, with lines extending for kilometers as people arrived with flowers in hand, chanting “Russia will be free,” “Russia without Putin,” “Navalny,” and “Liosha (a diminutive of Alexei), we are with you,” at the burial in the Borisovo cemetery in the Russian capital.
Yulia: Thank You for 26 Years of Absolute Happiness
Yulia, who bid farewell to her husband on Friday with a message on social media due to her inability to attend the funeral, thanked him for their “26 years of absolute happiness” together.
“I don’t know how to live without you, but I will try to make you happy and proud of me up there,” wrote Navalnaya from exile.
Yulia expressed confidence that she would see her husband again “one day.”
Politicians and Diplomats Attend the Funeral
Among the personalities who attended the funeral were Yevgeny Roizman, former mayor of Yekaterinburg, as well as some foreign diplomats, including the ambassadors of the United States, Germany, and France.
Boris Nadezhdin, a candidate for the Russian presidency recently banned by the Electoral Commission of the country, also attended the farewell ceremony.
“The people are afraid, but they want to overcome it,” said opposition politician Nadezhdin to EFE. He added that Navalny’s death is “a tragic event for millions of Russians who supported him.”
Stringent Security Measures
Navalny’s farewell took place under strict security measures and an unprecedented police deployment in the Marino neighborhood.
Both near the temple, where the funeral home was set up, and at the cemetery, metal barriers and a strong police presence were in place.
In addition, multiple surveillance cameras and other devices that can be used as internet and mobile phone signal jammers were installed on the cemetery lampposts.
Navalny supporters waited patiently with flowers in hand for the arrival of the coffin, and when the politician’s body was brought into the church, they began to chant his name.
After the wake at the church, which lasted just over half an hour without most of the attendees being able to enter the temple, Navalny’s body was taken to the Borisovo cemetery for burial.
Borisovo: A Discreet and Ancient Cemetery
The Borisovo cemetery, where Navalny will be buried, covers an area of 4 hectares and is one of the oldest cemeteries in Moscow, with a history dating back to 1550.
The cemetery is not home to many celebrities. Among the most famous graves are those of Soviet artist Yuri Sherstnev and scientist Gennady Arakelov.
The Troyekurovskoye cemetery in western Moscow was another location considered in the media to accommodate Navalny’s body. It is the final resting place of numerous Russian personalities, including military figures, artists, cosmonauts, and politicians, including Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated in 2015.
Kremlin Warnings
The Kremlin warned today that those who participate in unauthorized demonstrations in honor of the deceased opposition leader will be punished.
“We want to remind you that there is a law that must be followed: any unauthorized gathering will constitute a violation of the law,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at his daily press briefing.
Peskov’s statement came in response to a question about the intention of Navalny’s followers to organize events in his memory across the country and abroad.
The Kremlin spokesperson also declined to comment on Navalny’s figure as a politician or to send a message to the opposition leader’s family, something that journalists asked about during the press conference.
Navalny’s team published a list of cities worldwide where ceremonies for the Russian politician were scheduled to take place.
“We call on you to place flowers at memorials (for Navalny) worldwide,” said a message from Navalny’s team, accompanied by a list of cities participating in the farewell ceremonies, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, among others.
Navalny’s associates and supporters, awarded the 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Conscience by the European Parliament, directly accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering what they consider the “assassination” of the opposition leader.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
International
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
The arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain’s Ceuta enclave triggered a major European Union crisis on Friday, after Madrid described the situation as an “attack” on its territorial integrity.
At least 34 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of migrants had begun arriving in Ceuta earlier in the week, either by swimming across the border or climbing security fences. Most of those who entered were young men and teenagers.
However, the situation escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, when the number of arrivals surged within a few hours, reaching nearly 60,000 people. According to the Spanish government, the vast majority of them — around 48,000 migrants — had returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
The episode represents one of the most serious migration crises faced by the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has a population of around 84,000 residents, in recent years.
Several European countries responded strongly to the crisis, with Italy announcing the temporary suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, a measure supported by Finland and Denmark.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X.
Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the country had tightened controls on maritime and air entry points from Spain, but clarified that the measure would not affect Spanish or European citizens traveling to Italy.
The additional checks will specifically target non-European citizens arriving from Spain, according to the ministry.
The measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday, authorities said.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to the Italian announcement through a statement on X, as European governments continued discussions over the consequences of the migration crisis.
International
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced legislation to establish a federal anti-corruption office aimed at strengthening oversight of the executive branch and preventing future presidents from using the White House for personal financial gain.
Schumer said the proposal was prompted by what he described as President Donald Trump’s misuse of the presidencyto benefit his family’s business interests.
“In just 18 months, the Trump family has made more than $4 billion by exploiting the influence of the presidency,” Schumer alleged.
The New York senator also argued that the alleged corruption has had direct economic consequences for American households.
“The same corrupt practices Trump is using to pocket billions of dollars are also forcing Americans to pay, on average, $3,100 more each year because of the rising cost of living,” he said.
The legislation was introduced alongside Democratic Senators Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley, and Andy Kim.
According to Schumer, the bill has two primary objectives: “First, to return money to the American people. Second, to ensure that no one can ever steal from them again.”
He added that the proposal would create legal mechanisms allowing citizens to seek the recovery of funds allegedly obtained through government corruption.
“The fact that Trump stole money from the American people does not make it his. Americans deserve to get that money back,” Schumer said.
Under the proposed legislation, any U.S. citizen—as well as state attorneys general acting on behalf of their residents—would be authorized to file civil lawsuits to recover funds allegedly acquired through corrupt practices by public officials.
“Our bill would empower any individual, including a state attorney general acting on behalf of the people of that state, to bring legal action to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption,” Schumer said.
The measure is expected to face debate in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over executive accountability and the scope of presidential powers.
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
Chuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
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