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Sergei Furgal, accused of ordering the murder of several businessmen 15 years ago, was arrested last week.
His arrest sparked unprecedented protests in Khabarovsk, a city near the Chinese border with a population of approximately 600,000. persons. Protests were also held in smaller smaller towns.
The 50-year-old governor has denied the charges against him, saying they are politically motivated.
In 2018, S. Furgal, a member of the nationalist LDPR party, secured the post of governor, defeating a representative of the ruling United Russia party during the elections.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people, including several young people, the elderly and women in wheelchairs, marched in central Khabarovsk despite temperatures above 30 degrees, an AFP correspondent said.
They carried banners with the words “Freedom for the van!” They sang “As long as we are united, we are invincible,” with cars passing by signaling support with audible signals.
The protesters demanded a “fair trial” for the governor of the Khabarovsk region, not Moscow, where he was detained.
“He is our governor! And we will defend him!” They shouted.
The latest protest, like previous actions, was not sanctioned by the authorities, but the police did not attempt to expel the protesters.
Last Saturday, tens of thousands of people also took to the streets of Khabarovsk to protest against the arrest of S. Furgal.
These protests are a rare manifestation of disobedience to the Kremlin in remote regions of Russia. Demonstrations are taking place after President Vladimir Putin triumphed this month in a highly controversial vote on the constitutional amendments. This victory gave him the opportunity to extend his tenure in power until 2036.
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