Proponents of Navalny said they are planning nationwide protests in at least 120 cities, with everyone starting at noon in that city. There are 11 timezones covered in the country.
Live video feeds and social media videos have seen crowds in a number of cities chanting “Putin is a thief” in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nalveni was detained on January 17, just months after arriving in Moscow on January 17, after being poisoned with the neuron agent Novichok in August 2020, months after treatment in Germany. He accused the Russian government of poisoning, a charge the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
The politician is currently in custody before a court hearing on February 2 where the court will decide whether his suspended sentence on fraud charges in the 2014 embezzlement case should be commuted to prison sentence as Russian officials say his suspended sentence is in violation of conditions.
Speaking at that hearing, Navalny urged protesters to keep coming out.
“They are the last obstacle that prevents those in power from stealing everything. They are true patriots.” “You can’t scare us – we’re the majority.”
Russia’s Interior Ministry has warned Russian citizens not to take part in “unauthorized” protests. “Russia’s Interior Ministry has called on citizens to refrain from participating in unauthorized protests,” the ministry said in an Instagram post.
Russian federal law requires organizers to file an appeal with local authorities at least 10 days in advance to obtain permission to protest.
Navalny’s team announced new gathering points for protesters in Moscow and St. Petersburg through their social media accounts after Russian authorities blocked some streets and metro stations before the rallies.
Security forces will be able to pull out of the streets of central Moscow as early as Sunday, including Lubankaka Square, the home of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters.
According to OVD-Info, an independent site that monitors arrests, 519 people have been detained so far in Russia in connection with the unrest. This number is expected to increase.
The Russian city of Novosibirsk in Siberia to protest performance was shown live video drivers that police had detained opponents who are proud of their car horns in support. In response, protesters were heard shouting: “Let them go!”
People clung to their elbows, forming chains and shouting “Freedom!” Can be seen with the sound of no. And “Give us back our money!” They were standing in front of the city hall in the center of Novosibirsk. There was a row of riot police in front of him.
Protesters marching on icy streets can be heard shouting: “Russia without Putin!” And “one for all, and for all.”
Officials announced ahead of Sunday’s protests that certain streets in central Moscow would be closed, seven metro stations would be closed and liquor would not be sold in glass containers all day.
In addition, the mayor’s office in Moscow said cafes, restrooms, runts and other catering facilities in the city center would be closed on Sunday, according to the Russian state media agency Tass.
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