Police in Russia have arrested more than 200 people in a protest rally on Saturday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. The arrests were made even before the big demonstration began in the capital Moscow, officially, scheduled for 13:00 (Israel time). In addition, many arrests have taken place in other cities across the country, with demonstrations against the arrest of Navalny taking place in a long line of cities and places.
Arrest of protesters in Russia (Photo: Reuters)Attorney Lyubov Sobol, who is affiliated with the protest movement led by Navalny, was aggressively arrested while giving an interview to the Moscow media. In the photos that were broadcast live, armed policemen are seen forcibly evacuating her from the scene.
Zobol is a member of the Pushkinski family. Video: Дождь pic.twitter.com/gBd3FAbBJS
– MBA Media (@MBKhMedia) January 23, 2021
Security forces in the country informed the protesters ahead of time that the demonstrations were illegal and that they were forbidden to take to the streets. In photos and videos coming from all over the country, police officers are seen committing severe violence against the protesters in the various cities.
In Moscow, checkpoints were set up and many police stations were set up, along with the placement of many police officers in the city’s main squares. According to media reports in the country, at least ten thousand people went out to demonstrate in Moscow alone.
On Monday, Navalny called on his supporters to take to the streets because “this is what Putin is most afraid of.” He made the remarks in a video posted on YouTube after a Russian court sentenced Nablani to 30 days in jail. “Do not be afraid, take to the streets. Not for me, but for you and for your future,” he said in the video. The court will hear his sentence on February 2.
This week Navalny took off for Russia, after ending his recovery period in Germany from the poisoning experience he experienced in late August, apparently by the security forces in Russia. Upon landing at a military base near Moscow, Navalny was arrested, and for the time being, the court in Russia extended his detention by 30 days. He is expected to stand trial and may face a lengthy prison sentence.
Navalny’s supporters believe that taking to the streets in large numbers could create a major protest by Western countries against the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin. For now, it seems that the Western hemisphere, which has criticized Navalny’s arrest, is not influencing the decision-maker in Moscow and that he is expected to remain in custody.