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Thousands of Russian Protest Despite Mass Detentions

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) –
Thousands of Russian Protest Despite Mass Detentions

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – Thousands of people have been detained in unauthorized protests across Russia to demand the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, activists said Sunday.

Police arrested more than 5,000 people in the snow-covered streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other Russian cities, according to monitors.

That was much more than last week, suggested the monitoring group OVD-Info. Navalny’s wife, Yulia, was arrested again.

Despite many police, thousands rallied for Navalny’s freedom and against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s perceived crackdown on dissent.

This month, police took Navalny into custody after returning from Germany, where he was treated for nerve agent poisoning. Moscow denied wrongdoing and declared Sunday’s protests illegal.

The spokesperson of Russia’s interior ministry Irina Volk effectively warned protestors to stay home. “The Russian Interior Ministry units and other law enforcement will use all necessary measures to ensure public order at sites of mass events,” she said.

“Moreover, we warn that any violent actions against officers or refusal to obey their lawful orders will be prevented. Individuals who commit such illegal actions will be detained and held accountable according to the law,” Volk added.

NO HERO?

But many ignored these threats in a clear challenge to President Putin, noted Political Scientist Vladimir Sotnikov of the Russia Acadamy of Sciences. “The only thing which is probably worrying him [Putin] is that a lot of people are coming to the streets to support Mr. Navalny. Because Mr. Navalny is regarded a hero,” Sotnokiv stressed.

“We here in Russia for a very long time haven’t had such a heroes like Mr. Navalny. Look, he was almost poisoned [to death],” the political scientist said.

“[Navalny] came to Germany [anyway]. He returned to Russia on purpose because he knew he would be arrested and even tried and probably jailed. That [courage] is the big concern for President Putin,” Sotnokiv added.

He explained that the rallies also come ahead of parliamentary elections in September. Navalny and his supporters want to challenge pro-Kremlin parties.

Russian authorities claim that Navalny isn’t a political hero. They say he was supposed to report to police regularly because of a suspended sentence for embezzlement.

Navalny has denounced his detention as “blatantly illegal,” saying authorities had allowed him to travel to Berlin for treatment for the Novichok poisoning last year.

SECRET AGENTS

The married father of two has blamed state security agents under Putin’s orders for the attempt on his life. Investigative journalists have also linked the Russian secret service to the poisoning.

But the Kremlin denies involvement and disputes the conclusion by Western weapons experts that the Novichok agent was used.

Russian President Putin has also denied Navalny allegations that he is the owner of a near $1.4 billion palace on the Black Sea.

Navalny made the accusations in a video that has gone viral in Russia and has been watched more than 100 million times.

Amid the corruption allegations, protests are due to continue in what promises to be a bitter winter in Russia.