Arrests wave in Russia ahead of demonstrations against the arrest of Alexei Navalny, Putin’s biggest opponent

Police officers arrest a protester who took to the streets in support of Navalny (AP / Pavel Golovkin / File)

Russian authorities They arrested other supporters of imprisoned opponent Alexei Navalny on Friday In the next few hours, several of his followers will appear before a judge on the eve of a great day of demonstrations for the activist across the country.

Navalny’s team, held until at least February 15 and targeted in various court cases, He called for demonstrations to take place on Saturday in 65 Russian cities To demand the activist’s release. For the Russian authorities, these protests are:illegal“.

The police, who had already arrested several Navalny’s collaborators on Thursday, On Friday, the coordinator of the opposition office in the far east of the country, Ekaterina Federnikova, was arrested, Previously Collaborator with her organization in Novosibirsk, Siberia, Elena Noskovets.

These arrests have been reported by the Navalny team and the non-governmental organization OVD-Info.

They were also arrested on Thursday Lyubov SobolOne of the most famous faces in Navalny’s movement and its spokesperson, Kyra Yarmish, Who will appear on Friday before a judge and will have to provide explanations to summon demonstrations deemed illegal.

Lyubov Sobol was arrested on Thursday (AP / File)

Other Navalny collaborators were arrested in different parts of the country. One of your firm’s attorneys, Vladlin, A Belarusian citizen, ordered to leave the country.

The Russian Kremlin, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of the Interior They warned against participating in the Saturday protests Other government agencies have threatened Fines for social networks if they do not block calls show.

After his arrest on Sunday, Navalny responded on Tuesday by publishing an investigation into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s luxurious property on the shores of the Black Sea that would have cost more than $ 1.2 billion.

Navalny was arrested upon his arrival in Russia (Reuters)

On Friday, about 53 million people watched this investigation, accompanied by a nearly two-hour video, on YouTube.

Navalny was arrested on January 17 when he returned to Russia after a five-month convalescence in Germany from poisoning.. The activist accuses the Russian government of trying to kill him, something the Kremlin has long denied.

(With information from AFP)

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