More Than 4,000 Russians Detained During Protests For Jailed Putin Critic Alexey Navalny

Topline

Russian police took more than 4,000 people into custody Sunday during mass protests demanding the release of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, the Kremlin critic who was poisoned last year and is set to face trial Tuesday in Moscow.

Key Facts

Chief Critic

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed Russia on Sunday for the use of force against the demonstrators. “The U.S. condemns the persistent use of harsh tactics against peaceful protesters and journalists by Russian authorities for a second week straight,” he wrote on Twitter Sunday. “We renew our call for Russia to release those detained for exercising their human rights, including Aleksey Navalny.”

Tangent

On Sunday, Reuters reported Navalny had been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian lawmakers, whose nominees almost always go on to win, according to the news agency.

Key Background

Navalny’s allies called on the opposition leader’s supporters to march across Russia on Sunday in a show of solidarity before he appears in court Tuesday. Navalny faces charges of violating his parole stemming from a 2014 fraud conviction that he says was politically motivated. He could spend years in prison if convicted. Navalny was taken into custody two weeks ago at a Moscow airport shortly after arriving back in his home country for the first time since he was poisoned last year and rushed to a Berlin hospital for treatment. He remains in pre-trial detention. Navalny says he was poisoned by Russian security forces, an allegation Russian President Vladimir Putin denies but is backed up by evidence uncovered by investigative journalists at Bellingcat. 

Further Reading

Russia detains over 2,700 at protests against jailing of Kremlin critic Navalny (Reuters)

Russia arrests 3,300 during wide protests backing Navalny (Associated Press)

Russian Police Raid Opposition Leader Navalny’s Office And Apartment (Forbes)

Navalny Allies Call For More Protests Across Russia Ahead Of His Trial (Forbes)

Kremlin Critic Alexei Navalny To Be Detained For 30 Days, Russian Court Orders (Forbes)

Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Detained After Returning To Russia (Forbes)