Russians braved the below 60 degree weather and police brutality to demand the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Vasily Maximov / Getty Images
Thousands of Russians in 200 cities stretching from Moscow to Siberia faced sub-zero temperatures and police brutality during the country’s pro-democracy protests on Saturday.
The demonstrations came in response to the attempt to assassinate and arrest the opposition leader Alexey NavalnyWhich angered the Russian citizens.
From Vladivostok to Kaliningrad (10 thousand kilometers between them), from the towns, Siberia like Irkuts descended to southern Sochi. There aren’t enough independent media outside Moscow to know in detail the mood there, but they tell #Navalny https://t.co/Ta4FZn1cfO
Navalny was poisoned in August of last year and was taken to Germany for treatment, where doctors confirmed that Novichok chemical agent Was used. Then Navalny helped investigate his assassination With BellingcatNews outlet. He is famous Call the FSB agent I got involved and tricked him into confessing.
Opposition leader He returned to Russia on January 17thWhere he was arrested on the spot. His team Another investigation published Two days later, which allegedly shows President Vladimir Putin’s palace on the Black Sea. The investigation came alongside calls from Navalny to protest on January 23, which drew a resounding response.
Kirill Kudryavtsev / Getty Images
According to the report, more than 3,000 people have been arrested across the country, including 16 reporters Protest Tracking Site OVD-Info, The largest number in the past four years. It is not known how many people are participating across the country, but the videos and photos show what appear to be tens of thousands of people on the streets.
In Siberia, people protested in the weather of -60 degrees.
In Irkutsk, a small city on the border with Mongolia, thousands filled the streets.
Demonstrators also lined the streets to the Kremlin in Moscow.
Thousands marched in St. Petersburg.
Demonstrators in Moscow threw snowballs at nearby police officers.
In Tropnaya Circus, the policemen were thrown snowballs, and it was clear that they were confused Video: Yulia Sugiva / MediaZuna
But it didn’t take long for the police to use force during the protests, which had previously been considered illegal.
One of the videos shows a woman being kicked in the stomach. According to the Medizona news outlet, the woman suffered a concussion and was taken to hospital.
The riot police officer kicked the woman in the stomach as she tried to help the detained man. Video: “Fontanka”
In another video, the police are seen teasing a young child as the crowd screams to let him go.
A reporter, who was arrested and then released, recorded people being beaten on police buses.
Another video clip shows a woman being led by two men in civilian clothes.
The US embassy in Russia tweeted in support of the protests, and the Russian Foreign Ministry at a later time The tweet was described as “hypocrisy.”
We are seeing reports of protests in 38 Russian cities, and the arrest of more than 350 peaceful protesters and journalists. The United States supports the right of all people to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. Steps taken by the Russian authorities eliminate these rights.
The largely striking photos and videos show the protesters rallying together against the police, sometimes even taking advantage of their conscience.
Braved by the police response and the government’s condemnation, Navalny’s organization called for more protests next week.
“This was the first step on the road to victory,” Anti-Corruption Foundation chirp. “See you again in a week.”
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