Protests have been held across Russia calling for the release of Russian opposition activist Alexey Navalni in custody and arrests of more than 5,000 people.
According to Russian media and foreign media reports, protests by supporters calling for Navalni’s release were held in nearly 100 cities across Russia.
OVD-Info, a local non-governmental organization that monitors the arrests of Russian political prisoners, says more than 5,100 people have been arrested across Russia.
By region, it is reported that 1,600 people were arrested by the police in Moscow, the second city, and 1,100 people in St. Petersburg.
Russian authorities rejected all protests because of the risk of the spread of Corona 19, but Navalni supporters came out to the streets and protested without worrying about the authorities’ sanctions.
In Moscow yesterday (31st) from noon to around 6pm, thousands of people protested around the city, shouting slogans such as’Free Navalni’ and’Putin is a thief’.
Police estimated the number of protesters in Moscow at around 2,000, but local media reported that it was far more than the police estimate.
Moscow police have concentrated troops at key points in the city to prevent protesters from gathering, while closing close to 10 subway stations and ordering restaurants and cafes to cease operations.
Amnesty International, an international human rights group, says Moscow authorities have arrested too many people and there is no room in the detention facility.
(Photo = Getty Image Korea)
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