A hundred Russians detained on the world day for the liberation of the opponent Navalny

The world day for the liberation of the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalnyresulted in the arrest on Sunday of a hundred people in Russiawhere many activists challenged the climate of repression that has gripped this country since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

“You are not alone. Freedom for Navalny”, was one of the most repeated posters throughout the day, both in this country and in many cities around the world.

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Navalny celebrated his 47th birthday behind bars on Sunday on the eve of a new trial for extremism, for which he could be sentenced to another 30 years in prison.

The opposition team, whose members are all in exile, promised the detainees that they would bear all the costs of their defense.

Moscow, from Pushkin to Red Square

In anticipation of the protests, the authorities deployed a strong police device in the pushkin squaretraditional meeting place of the opposition to the Kremlin.

Indeed, the Russian president, Vladimir Putinhad urged this week not to allow certain groups, which he has in the past labeled as “human waste”, destabilize the internal political situation of the country in the middle of the war with Ukraine.

A protester holds placards at a rally outside the Russian embassy in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, in London on June 4, 2023, to mark Alexei Navalny’s 47th birthday. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (JUSTIN TALLIS /)

The presence of riot police in the square and the national guard in the surrounding area did not deter the bravest, among whom were several women with signs and other opposition symbols.

As reported by the OVD-Info organization, half of the arrests made by law enforcement took place in the capital and mostly near the statue of the poet Alexander Pushkin.

A woman was taken to the police station just for carrying a balloon that said “Happy Birthday”, an image that was recorded on video.

Another man was arrested for handing out leaflets, as was an activist for wearing a T-shirt with the words “take care of russia” and a man in a jacket with the acronym “SHIZÓ”, which means punishment cell.

There were also arrests in the Red Squarewhere individual pickets tried to get the attention of book fair attendees.

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From Siberia to the rest of the world

There were also at least a dozen detainees in Siberiathree of them in Omsk and two in the capital of Altai, barnaul.

In Krasnoyarsk the police detained five activists, one of them for writing with chalk on the asphalt: “Freedom for political prisoners”.

Also in the Baltic enclave of kaliningrad three people were arrested and taken to police vans for demanding Navalny’s release.

In the city of KhabarovskIn the Far East, law enforcement officers took two women into custody, one of whom recorded a video in which she congratulated the opponent in front of the regional government building.

A protester holds placards at a rally outside the Russian embassy in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, in London on June 4, 2023, to mark Alexei Navalny’s 47th birthday. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (JUSTIN TALLIS /)

The Telegram channel of Navalny’s team showed images of demonstrations of support for Navalny in numerous European cities, from London to berlin, Madrid (Sun Gate), Paris, Barcelona, tokyo, Rome either Lisbonin addition to belgrade either Tel Aviv.

In total, there are more than 120 cities in the world that show solidarity with the opposition leader, which also includes Mexico, Buenos Aires (The May square), sao paulo and several American cities.

Some of these peaceful actions were held near the Russian embassies, acts also marked by opposition to Russian military intervention.

Navalny does not give up

“Life is made in such a way that social progress and a better future can only be achieved if some people are willing to pay for their right to have convictions. The more people there are like this, the less is the price to pay for all. The day will surely come when telling the truth and upholding justice in Russia will be normal and not dangerous.”, Navalny wrote today from jail on his Telegram account.

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The opponent has spent nearly 900 days behind bars, of which almost 200 have been spent in punishment cells in a prison less than 200 kilometers from Moscow.

Navalny’s collaborators have accused the prison authorities of trying to poison him in prison, just like what happened in 2020, when he was on the verge of death.

“The greatest of thanks to all the political prisoners in Russia, belarus and other countries. Most of them are much worse than me. I think about them constantly. His stoicism inspires me every dayNavalny added.

Source: Elcomercio