Over 1000 detained as Russian protesters rally in support of opposition leader Navalny

Thousands of people took to streets in Russia demanding release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for a second successive weekend on January 31. According to reports by a monitoring group, over 1000 people have been detained so far by police and number will increase. This comes after Russian authorities issued a strong warning against planned protest. Russian Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk said that participants found violating COVID-19 preventive measures will face serious charges. 

Why are people protesting? 

Navalny h been in Germany for more than five months after he was airlifted to Berlin for treatment following infamous poisoning case. Navalny was allegedly poisoned last year in August as he fell ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. He was taken to hospital but Russian doctors ruled out poisoning and put him in an artificial coma. Navalny was flown to Germany from Russia at request of his family and close aides. German doctors and government anunced days later that Navalny was indeed poisoned using vichok, a Soviet-era nerve nt.

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(Police officers detain a man during a protest against jailing of opposition leer Alexei Navalny in Vlivostok, Russia, on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. As part of a multipronged effort by authorities to discour Russians from attending Sunday's demonstrations, Prosecutor General's office ordered state communications watchdog, Roskomnzor, to block calls for joining protests on internet. Im Credits: AP)

(Police officers stand blocking enter to central square in Vlivostok, Russia, on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. Im Credits: AP)

poisoning was blamed on Russian state, which dismissed allegations and demanded more proof for starting an investigation in country. Navalny came out of coma in September 2020 and months later he expressed his desire to return to Russia. Before Navalny's return, Russian prison authorities h issued a warning asking Navalny to return as soon as possible or face jail for violating 2014 suspended sentence terms. When Navalny got back to Russia, he was arrested by authorities, which sparked widespre protests across country on January 23. 

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city of vosibirsk in eastern Siberia experienced one of biggest rallies. Thousands were seen marching on streets and chanting, ‘“Putin, thief!”. In Moscow, authorities have introduced unprecedented security measures. Subway stations near Kremlin were also closed. Restaurants and stores were also asked to stay shut.

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(Im Credits: AP)