Russia detains 4,000 protesters for storming streets of Moscow over Navalny's arrest

Russian authorities on Sunday detained nearly 4,000 protesters, who took to streets to oppose imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Thousands of demonstrators gared in Moscow on Sunday demanding release of Navalny, who was jailed by Russian authorities after he returned back from Germany on January 17. protest was called by Navalny's supporters and allies last week following ar demonstration that saw people pour on streets across Russia to protest his detention. 

Russian authorities h warned of consequences prior to protest, which took place on Sunday. Russian Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk said that participants found violating COVID-19 preventive measures will face serious charges. 

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Navalny's poisoning

Navalny was jailed after he returned back from Germany, where he recovering from a failed assassination attempt. Last year in August, Navalny fell ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow following which he was mitted to a hospital. Navalny's aides alleged that he h been poisoned and demanded his transfer from Russia to Germany for treatment. Russian doctors ruled out poisoning but when Navalny reached Berlin, German doctors concluded that he was poisoned using vichok, a Soviet-era nerve nt. 

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Navalny recovered following days in a medically-induced coma. Navalny continued his criticism of Russian state from Germany and claimed that Russian President Vlimir Putin was behind his poisoning. Last month, Russian prison authorities asked Navalny to return back to Russia citing he was in violation of his 2014 suspended prison term. Authorities warned that if Navalny fails to show up before a certain date he would face jail term upon returning. 

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As soon as Navalny got back to Russia, he was arrested by authorities, which sparked widespre protests across country on January 23. Russian authorities cracked down on protesters and allies of Navalny by making mass arrests. Tens of thousands of people gared in Moscow and or cities despite chilling cold with mercury plummeting as low as -50 degree Celcius in some places. According to reports, more than 3,500 people were detained in connection with protests, 1,400 from Moscow alone. Later, Navalny's aides h called for ar protest on January 31. 

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(Im Credit: AP)