More Protests In Russia After Thousands of Arrests
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Supporters of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have called for new protests after thousands were detained in the largest rallies against Russian President Vladimir Putin in years.
The weekend protests followed last week’s arrest of Navalny, who was detained after returning from Germany.
Adding to anger among protestors was a Navalny investigation claiming President Putin owns a nearly 1.4 billion dollar Black Sea palace.
The online video, which was since viewed more than 85 million times, describes the property as 39 times the size of Monaco. It says that the palace, which even features an ice skating rink, a casino, and a wine yard, was financed “with the largest bribe in history.”
In a reaction, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the opulent palace
“doesn’t belong to me.” He also condemned as “illegal and dangerous” the mass rallies in support of jailed opposition leader Navalny.
Tens of thousands defied a heavy police presence to join the rallies across Russia on Saturday. More than 3,500 were detained in violent confrontations, monitors said.
It marks the biggest challenge to Putin, who is now the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin.
European Union foreign ministers discussed the protests on Monday but disagreed on further sanctions on Russia. The lack of unity worried foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which became independent after the collapse of the Moscow-led Soviet Union.
In statements, they demanded “restrictive measures against Russian officials responsible for arrests”. More anti-Putin rallies, many organized through social media, were due this weekend across Russia despite coronavirus related restrictions.
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