Protest in front of Russian embassy in Berlin at Navalny's death

Several hundred demonstrators gathered near the Russian embassy in Berlin on Sunday to protest at the death of jailed dissident Alexei Navalny, police in the German capital reported.

People carried placards with slogans like "Putin is a killer" and "Stopp Putin," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The organizers had registered a protest by 450 people.

Shortly before the protest called for the early afternoon, the Pussy Riot protest group announced its own demonstration. A police spokesman said that a number of people with pink hoods and banners had arrived at the embassy and left shortly afterwards.

Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist protest and performance art group, issued a statement saying that the situation was dangerous for members of its group as well. "We call on the international community to show solidarity and to work for justice," the group said.

"Alexei Navalny's murder and threats to Pussy Riot members are attacks on the fundamental values of freedom, justice and human dignity that we have to defend with determination," it said.

Members of the group, which was set up in 2011, have been sentenced to lengthy terms in prison in Russia.

Protests have been held all round the world to mark the death of the 47-year-old activist in a Siberian penal colony since it was announced on Friday.

Navalny's team and human rights activists have termed Navalny's death a murder and hold the Kremlin responsible. According to the Russian authorities, Navalny collapsed while exercising in freezing conditions. Attempts to revive him failed.