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Russian police arrest hundreds of pro-Navalny protesters

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 31 January 2021 11:05 AM

Russian police have arrested hundreds of people who staged illegal protests in support of detained Western-backed blogger Alexei Navalny.

Navalny, 44, who was arrested on January 17 after flying back to Russia from Germany, faces court on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Navalny supporters were arrested across the country for staging illegal protests on Sunday, according to reports.

Russian leaders have on numerous occasions warned the US embassy in Moscow against encouraging illegal protests and meddling in the case of Navalny.

Reuters said about 100 people were arrested in the capital Moscow, where police have closed metro stations and are restricting movement in the city center.

Other sources reported that hundreds more were detained in more than a dozen other Russian cities.

AFP showed footage from Vladivostok where dozens of protesters were running away from police officers on the frozen waters of the Amur Bay and circle dancing.

Online videos showed protesters being hauled into buses by police.

Earlier this month, Navalny's supporters released a video detailing a lavish compound in the resort town of Gelendzhik, which it claimed belonged to President Vladimir Putin, describing it as "the largest bribe in history."

Putin has denied the accusation.

Navalny, who was remanded in custody for violating the terms of a suspended sentence he received in 2014 for fraud and money laundering, has called the case against him a political revenge.

Russian police detained Navalny on arrival at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport from Germany this month, five months after he was transferred to a hospital in Berlin to be treated for what the West alleged had been a nerve agent attack by Moscow.

Western governments have been attacking Russia with accusations that it poisoned Navalny, saying Moscow must help investigate the case or face consequences.

Russia denied the allegation, describing it as a provocation of Western intelligence services aimed at justifying more sanctions against Russia.

Russian investigators have also launched a fraud probe into Ukraine-based businessman Alexander Khomenko who they say funded Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation.