An ally of Alexei Navalny has urged Russians to turn out in big numbers next month to protest in his memory.

The late opposition leader – a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin – had called for demonstrations on election day on 17 March shortly before his death.

Mr Navalny died while imprisoned at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony north of the Arctic Circle.

Follow latest: Funeral homes refuse to stage Navalny ceremony

His team say they are finding that multiple venues in Russia are refusing to host the farewell ceremony of Mr Navalny.

Some venues say their space is occupied while others refuse to mention Mr Navalny’s name, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said.

Leonid Volkov said the protest call was “Navalny’s direct political testament”, and the last call to action that he issued.

“Now this is no longer just a political action aimed at overcoming political loneliness and isolation. Now this is a rally of mourning and a civic memorial, an action in memory of Navalny, who asked us to hold it,” he said.

Mr Volkov urged people to defy fears of arrest and “fulfil the last will of Alexei Navalny”.

The Kremlin warned there would be legal consequences for anyone who heeded what it called a provocative call from people it has labelled as dangerous US-backed extremists.

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President Putin is assured of winning a new six-year term in the election. Two anti-war candidates have been disqualified on technical grounds and none of the remaining three candidates is critical of the president.

On Monday, an ally of Mr Navalny claimed he was set to be freed as part of a prisoner swap before his death.

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It comes after a Moscow court jailed a human rights advocate who spoke out against the war in Ukraine.

Oleg Orlov, 70, was convicted of “repeatedly discrediting” the Russian army in an article he wrote denouncing the invasion.

He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. He has rejected the case against him as politically motivated.

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