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Thousands of people demonstrated in Russian cities on Saturday, according to Reuters.
The news agency estimates that tens of thousands demonstrated in Moscow. In what is the biggest mark against President Vladimir Putin in several years.
In total, more than 2,000 people were detained, according to AFP.
Blant dem er Navanyjs kone Yulia Navalnaya.
After being arrested during the demonstration in Moscow, Navalnaya posted a photo on Instagram.
– Sorry about the quality. There is a bad light inside the police car, write in the mail.
Now she should be released, according to Reuters.
Authorities have already detained several close Navalny allies when it emerged that his supporters were planning more demonstrations.
“Attempts to carry out unapproved events, as well as provocative acts on behalf of the participants, will be considered a threat to public order and will be immediately reversed,” Moscow police said on Friday.
Protests encouraged
Navalny supporters have promised financial aid to the protesters who will be fined.
Navalny has called for protests. Not to demand his release, but to protest against a regime that has stolen a large part of the values in the country, it is said.
His staff have released a video showing, among other things, a huge and luxurious property near the Black Sea that they claim belongs to President Vladimir Putin. The video has had many millions of views.
There is a large police force in Pushkin Square in Moscow.
Photo: Jan Espen Kruse / NRK
Call on Russia to release the protesters
Norway is calling on Russia to release the protesters arrested during today’s protests.
– Russia must respect freedom of expression and the right of assembly, writes Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide in a statement.
Arrests in various cities
More than 200 people have been arrested in eastern Russia and Siberia, according to Reuters.
In Khabarovsk, the police broke into a rally on Saturday morning. Several people were arrested. Protesters have also been arrested in Vladivostok.
In Yakutsk, in eastern Siberia, police forces encountered protesters.
Photo: Ksenia Korshun / Reuters
Navalny, one of Putin’s biggest critics, is in detention until February 15. He was jailed for several alleged violations of the terms of a 2014 suspended sentence for fraud.
Police also arrested protesters in Vladivostok.
Photo: Pavel Korolyov / AFP
Navalny fell ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow in August. After two days, he was transferred to a hospital in Berlin for treatment. Western experts say he was poisoned by the neurotoxin Novitsjok. Navalny accuses the Russian secret police FSB of backing President Putin’s orders. The Russian authorities deny having anything to do with the case.
Navalny was arrested when he returned to his home country on Sunday.
His followers have called for new demonstrations next weekend.
