The videos that friends from Moscow sent to me show the historical Lubyanka Square. This square has been the home of the state security forces for over a century. Positioned in front of these buildings is the Solovetsky Stone, a monument erected in 1990 by the Memorial Society. This monument pays tribute to the countless victims of political repression. The square, blanketed in a layer of snow, is a stark contrast to the flurry of activity from the police officers that traipse across its expanse. The Solovetsky stone, a symbol of remembrance and mourning, is adorned with a multitude of flowers.
For three consecutive days, this has been the sight that greets the eyes of the visitors and passersby. The stream of people bringing flowers to the site is unending. The metro cars that travel towards Lubyanka are filled with individuals clutching flowers. A shared glance among them is enough to understand their common purpose. They all wish to lay their flowers at the Solovetsky Stone in memory of Alexei Navalny. Navalny, in the past, made it a point to visit this same spot every October 29th, on the eve of Political Prisoners’ Day. He would join Muscovites in reading out the names of those who fell victim to Moscow’s Stalin-era terror.
