The protests in Russia over the detention of Alexei Navalny could turn into a bigger movement. Tens of thousands had turned out in support of Navalny last weekend. WION's Molly Gambhir tells you more about Navalny's rise as the face of the opposition in Russia.

Gravitas | Alexei Navalny: Putin's loudest Critic

Vladimir Putin became Russia's President at the turn of the millennium and he&nbsp;had two tasks before him: handling the war in Chechnya and the Boris Yeltsin-era oligarchs;&nbsp;he weathered both.

In 2002, a Moscow theatre was seized by Chechen militants who took 912 people hostage, of which 129&nbsp;died. Putin handled the siege ruthlessly and&nbsp;earned a 'strongman' reputation with an approval rating of 83 per cent.

In 2014, Putin annexed Crimea and&nbsp;Russia was slapped with sanctions. However, four years later, Putin appeared to mock the sanctions&nbsp;when he managed to get the world to Russi&nbsp;for the football world cup.

For a man&nbsp;who has survived it all,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/alexei-navalny">Alexei Navalny</a> is becoming too grave a threat.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-keep-all-options-on-table-for-navalnys-release-us-press-sec-jen-psaki-359479" hreflang="en">Biden to keep all options on table for Navalny's release: US Press Sec Jen Psaki</a>

Vladimir Putin is used to silencing dissent. In 2006, journalist Anna Politkovskaya was murdered on Putin's birthday. She had written about corruption in the Russian army. However,&nbsp;Putin denied any involvement.

Now, 15 years on, every critic of Putin has either met the same fate or has been silenced or sidelined in one way or another — be it former federal security service officer&nbsp;Alexander Litvinenko, former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, activist-journalist&nbsp;Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza or Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko.

Alexei Navalny, however, has emerged as an exception after he survived a nerve agent poisoning. He&nbsp;used his recovery time&nbsp;to investigate attacks on journalists.

He exposed corruption in Putin's system, which he detailed&nbsp;in a two-hour documentary. Now, Navalny has kickstarted what Putin fears the most:&nbsp;a Ukraine-style Maidan revolution.

From Moscow to St. Petersburg, protesters have taken to the streets across Russia with demonstrations in at least 100 cities. While Russia has earlier, too, seen anti-Putin protests, something of this scale is unprecedented.

Putin knows the history and he understands the threat&nbsp;such protests come with. He knows that protests eventually toppled the Tsarist rule too.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russians-take-to-streets-to-protest-against-putin-after-navalnys-arrest-358817" hreflang="en">Russians take to streets to protest against Putin after Navalny's arrest</a>

On paper, Putin's dream of being a president for life&nbsp;is clear, but on the roads of Russia are&nbsp;hurdles abound. Many protesters are calling Putin a thief and&nbsp;most are calling for a Russia without him.

Putin's worst fears have come true because of the 44-year-old&nbsp;Alexei Navalny.&nbsp;He is popular and has support abroad.

Navalny's poisoning made him a household name and his dramatic arrest heightened his profile and&nbsp;made him the face of Russian opposition —&nbsp;a position that was lying vacant for over two decades.

He has done his research and&nbsp;knows how the Kremlin works. In fact, Navalny has outmanoeuvred Putin.

After Navalny was poisoned, he duped Russian agents into spilling the details of the attempted assassination and&nbsp;returned to Russia despite the threats of an arrest. In&nbsp;doing so,&nbsp;Navalny became a hero.

When he was jailed, he told the world&nbsp;that he has no intention of committing suicide. So, Navalny has basically put Putin in a catch 22 situation as letting Navalny walk out of prison comes with a huge cost, but&nbsp;keeping him behind bars is not helping either.

Silencing him inside prison is not even an option. The world is watching what's happening in Russia and the call for "freedom"&nbsp;has reached Berlin.

Europe is calling for Navalny's release and&nbsp;the EU is mulling sanctions.

Navalny has not just challenged Putin's leadership, but also his strongman image. Navalny has been exposing Putin and labelling him as a fragile and corrupt leader. He has forced Putin to clear his name in public. Putin is so threatened by his fiercest critic that Navalny is not even allowed to contest elections.

Three weeks ago, Putin's popularity had slipped to 65 per cent. One&nbsp;can only imagine what the protests have done to that number. The change in leadership outside the home has made matters worse.

The US President Joe Biden is not Donald Trump and his White House is not looking away. It has already asked for the release of Navalny and his supporters.

Vladimir Putin became Russia's President at the turn of the millennium and he had two tasks before him: handling the war in Chechnya and the Boris Yeltsin-era oligarchs; he weathered both.

Vladimir Putin became Russia's President at the turn of the millennium and he had two tasks before him: handling the war in Chechnya and the Boris Yeltsin-era oligarchs; he weathered both. In 2002, a Moscow theatre was seized by Chechen militants who took 912 people hostage, of which 129 died. Putin handled the siege ruthlessly and earned a 'strongman' reputation with an approval rating of 83 per cent. In 2014, Putin annexed Crimea and Russia was slapped with sanctions. However, four years later, Putin appeared to mock the sanctions when he managed to get the world to Russi for the football world cup. For a man who has survived it all, Alexei Navalny is becoming too grave a threat. Also read| Biden to keep all options on table for Navalny's release: US Press Sec Jen Psaki Vladimir Putin is used to silencing dissent. In 2006, journalist Anna Politkovskaya was murdered on Putin's birthday. She had written about corruption in the Russian army. However, Putin denied any involvement. Now, 15 years on, every critic of Putin has either met the same fate or has been silenced or sidelined in one way or another — be it former federal security service officer Alexander Litvinenko, former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, activist-journalist Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza or Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko. Alexei Navalny, however, has emerged as an exception after he survived a nerve agent poisoning. He used his recovery time to investigate attacks on journalists. He exposed corruption in Putin's system, which he detailed in a two-hour documentary. Now, Navalny has kickstarted what Putin fears the most: a Ukraine-style Maidan revolution. From Moscow to St. Petersburg, protesters have taken to the streets across Russia with demonstrations in at least 100 cities. While Russia has earlier, too, seen anti-Putin protests, something of this scale is unprecedented. Putin knows the history and he understands the threat such protests come with. He knows that protests eventually toppled the Tsarist rule too. Also read| Russians take to streets to protest against Putin after Navalny's arrest On paper, Putin's dream of being a president for life is clear, but on the roads of Russia are hurdles abound. Many protesters are calling Putin a thief and most are calling for a Russia without him. Putin's worst fears have come true because of the 44-year-old Alexei Navalny. He is popular and has support abroad. Navalny's poisoning made him a household name and his dramatic arrest heightened his profile and made him the face of Russian opposition — a position that was lying vacant for over two decades. He has done his research and knows how the Kremlin works. In fact, Navalny has outmanoeuvred Putin. After Navalny was poisoned, he duped Russian agents into spilling the details of the attempted assassination and returned to Russia despite the threats of an arrest. In doing so, Navalny became a hero. When he was jailed, he told the world that he has no intention of committing suicide. So, Navalny has basically put Putin in a catch 22 situation as letting Navalny walk out of prison comes with a huge cost, but keeping him behind bars is not helping either. Silencing him inside prison is not even an option. The world is watching what's happening in Russia and the call for "freedom" has reached Berlin. Europe is calling for Navalny's release and the EU is mulling sanctions. Navalny has not just challenged Putin's leadership, but also his strongman image. Navalny has been exposing Putin and labelling him as a fragile and corrupt leader. He has forced Putin to clear his name in public. Putin is so threatened by his fiercest critic that Navalny is not even allowed to contest elections. Three weeks ago, Putin's popularity had slipped to 65 per cent. One can only imagine what the protests have done to that number. The change in leadership outside the home has made matters worse. The US President Joe Biden is not Donald Trump and his White House is not looking away. It has already asked for the release of Navalny and his supporters.

Putin's popularity slips as Alexei Navalny's political equity rises

European Union foreign ministers on Monday debated a response to the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a weekend police crackdown that saw thousands taken into custody during protests in support of the Kremlin critic.

European Union calls on Russia to release opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Anti-Putin protests have hit all major Russian cities. Protesters are calling for 'Russia without Putin' while demanding the release of Alexei Navalny. WION's Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas: Protests in Russia

The US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden's</a> team has reported that he will be keeping all options on the table while considering any response to the arrest of the Kremlin critic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/alexei-navalny">Alexei Navalny.</a>

"First, I'd like to point all of you to a statement that was released this weekend by the State Department strongly condemning the use of harsh tactics against protesters and journalists in cities throughout Russia," the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russians-take-to-streets-to-protest-against-putin-after-navalnys-arrest-358817" hreflang="en">Russians take to streets to protest against Putin after Navalny's arrest</a>

Talking about the arrest of Navalny in Russia, Psaki said: "These continued efforts to suppress Russians' rights to peacefully protest and assemble and express their freedom of expression, and the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the crackdown on protests that followed are troubling indications of further restrictions on Russian civil society."

"So, I'll just reiterate our call from here on Russian authorities to release all those detained for exercising their universal rights and for the immediate and unconditional release of Alexei Navalny," she continued.

She also said that Biden reserves the right to choose his manner and time of response.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-youtube-delete-content-promoting-illegal-protests-for-navalny-358766" hreflang="en">TikTok, YouTube delete content promoting 'illegal' protests for Navalny</a>

Further, answering a question about whether Biden will hold the Russian President personally accountable if Navalny's health deteriorates whilst in the jail, she said, "I would say this is the reason why the President tasked his national security team, his intelligence team, with assessing a range of issues as it relates to our relationship with Russia, including the SolarWinds breach, including the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, which we have been quite outspoken about from our national security adviser to the State Department, we'll continue to be."

"We want to see that review conclude. But as has always been the case, the president reserves the right to respond in the time and manner of his choosing. And I'm not going to take options off the table from here," she added.

This statement has come after several other international leaders have condemned the violence and police brutality against the democratic voices in Russia and have urged the Vladimir Putin-led government to immediately release Alexei Navalny.

The US President Joe Biden's team has reported that he will be keeping all options on the table while considering any response to the arrest of the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The US President Joe Biden's team has reported that he will be keeping all options on the table while considering any response to the arrest of the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. "First, I'd like to point all of you to a statement that was released this weekend by the State Department strongly condemning the use of harsh tactics against protesters and journalists in cities throughout Russia," the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday. Also read| Russians take to streets to protest against Putin after Navalny's arrest Talking about the arrest of Navalny in Russia, Psaki said: "These continued efforts to suppress Russians' rights to peacefully protest and assemble and express their freedom of expression, and the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the crackdown on protests that followed are troubling indications of further restrictions on Russian civil society." "So, I'll just reiterate our call from here on Russian authorities to release all those detained for exercising their universal rights and for the immediate and unconditional release of Alexei Navalny," she continued. She also said that Biden reserves the right to choose his manner and time of response. Also read| TikTok, YouTube delete content promoting 'illegal' protests for Navalny Further, answering a question about whether Biden will hold the Russian President personally accountable if Navalny's health deteriorates whilst in the jail, she said, "I would say this is the reason why the President tasked his national security team, his intelligence team, with assessing a range of issues as it relates to our relationship with Russia, including the SolarWinds breach, including the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, which we have been quite outspoken about from our national security adviser to the State Department, we'll continue to be." "We want to see that review conclude. But as has always been the case, the president reserves the right to respond in the time and manner of his choosing. And I'm not going to take options off the table from here," she added. This statement has come after several other international leaders have condemned the violence and police brutality against the democratic voices in Russia and have urged the Vladimir Putin-led government to immediately release Alexei Navalny.

Biden to keep all options on table for Navalny's release: US Press Sec Jen Psaki

The Russian civil rights portal OVD-Info said Sunday that among its count of 3,400 arrested during rallies in 100 cities

EU calls on Russia to release Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny

Russian police detained people and used force to break up a rally in St Petersburg on Sunday (January 23) as protesters demanded the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, whose wife was among those detained.

Russia: Police detains over 200 protesters at pro-Navalny rally in St Petersburg

Why there are Pro-Navalny protests in Russia?

President Vladimir Putin would respond in kind if the new U.S. administration showed a willingness to talk, a Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday, while also accusing Washington of meddling in mass protests in support of detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Kremlin accuses US of meddling in affairs, but says ready to talk

Russia is ready to set up a dialogue with the new US Biden administration in which differences are expected to be aired, a Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday.

He added&nbsp;that President Vladimir Putin would respond in kind to US willingness to talk.

Relations between Moscow and Washington have been at their lowest since the end of the Cold War, with the two sides at odds over Russia's role in Ukraine and allegations of its meddling in US elections, which it denies, among other issues.

"Of course, we count on success in setting up a dialogue," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on TV by Interfax news agency.

"This will be the dialogue where, of course, differences will have to be stated to a greater extent, points of differences. But at the same time, a dialogue is a possibility to find some rational kernels, the little parts where our relations are getting closer," he said.

"And if the current US administration is ready for such an approach, I have no doubts that our president will respond in kind."

In the same interaction, Peskov&nbsp;accused the US embassy of interfering in Russia's domestic affairs after the mission distributed a "demonstration alert" to American citizens in the country recommending they avoid protests. These protests were held in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

OVD Info, which monitors opposition rallies, said on Sunday that police seized at least 3,324 demonstrators across dozens of cities, with 1,320 people detained in Moscow and 490 in the second city Saint Petersburg.

"Of course, these publications are inappropriate," Peskov said, adding, "and of course indirectly, they are absolutely an interference in our domestic affairs."

Peskov accused the US embassy of "indirectly" supporting the violation of Russian legislation and backing "unauthorised protests". He said that if the Russian embassy in the United Sates issued similar information "this would cause a certain feeling of discomfort in Washington".

A US mission spokeswoman earlier Sunday said US embassies and consulates around the world routinely issue safety messages to US citizens.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, earlier on Saturday, accused the US embassy in Moscow of publishing routes of planned demonstrations, and demanded an explanation from American diplomats.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-accuses-us-diplomats-of-publishing-navalny-rally-routes-358864">Also read | Russia accuses US diplomats of publishing Navalny rally routes</a>

Russia police on Saturday detained over 3,300 protesters, including Navalny's wife, according to protest monitor OVD Info, as tens of thousands took to the streets to denounce President Vladimir Putin's rule. His wife was later released.

On Saturday, the US embassy in Moscow also said it was following the rallies, adding that Washington supported "the right of all people to peaceful protest, freedom of expression".

"Steps being taken by Russian authorities are suppressing those rights," embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross said on Twitter.

Police also detained Lyubov Sobol, a close ally of Navalny's, at the rally.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in St Petersburg said in a statement late Saturday that they were probing violations during demonstrations -- including "on the part of law enforcement" and the use of force against an unidentified woman.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violence-by-russian-police-under-scanner-after-arrest-of-3300-protesters-358988">Also read | Violence by Russian police under scanner after arrest of 3,300 protesters</a>

Putin was one of the last global leaders to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory in the US presidential election after the November 3 vote.

(with inputs from agencies)

Russia is ready to set up a dialogue with the new US Biden administration in which differences are expected to be aired, a Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday. He added that President Vladimir Putin would respond in kind to US willingness to talk.

Russia is ready to set up a dialogue with the new US Biden administration in which differences are expected to be aired, a Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday. He added that President Vladimir Putin would respond in kind to US willingness to talk. Relations between Moscow and Washington have been at their lowest since the end of the Cold War, with the two sides at odds over Russia's role in Ukraine and allegations of its meddling in US elections, which it denies, among other issues. "Of course, we count on success in setting up a dialogue," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on TV by Interfax news agency. "This will be the dialogue where, of course, differences will have to be stated to a greater extent, points of differences. But at the same time, a dialogue is a possibility to find some rational kernels, the little parts where our relations are getting closer," he said. "And if the current US administration is ready for such an approach, I have no doubts that our president will respond in kind." In the same interaction, Peskov accused the US embassy of interfering in Russia's domestic affairs after the mission distributed a "demonstration alert" to American citizens in the country recommending they avoid protests. These protests were held in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. OVD Info, which monitors opposition rallies, said on Sunday that police seized at least 3,324 demonstrators across dozens of cities, with 1,320 people detained in Moscow and 490 in the second city Saint Petersburg. "Of course, these publications are inappropriate," Peskov said, adding, "and of course indirectly, they are absolutely an interference in our domestic affairs." Peskov accused the US embassy of "indirectly" supporting the violation of Russian legislation and backing "unauthorised protests". He said that if the Russian embassy in the United Sates issued similar information "this would cause a certain feeling of discomfort in Washington". A US mission spokeswoman earlier Sunday said US embassies and consulates around the world routinely issue safety messages to US citizens. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, earlier on Saturday, accused the US embassy in Moscow of publishing routes of planned demonstrations, and demanded an explanation from American diplomats. Also read | Russia accuses US diplomats of publishing Navalny rally routes Russia police on Saturday detained over 3,300 protesters, including Navalny's wife, according to protest monitor OVD Info, as tens of thousands took to the streets to denounce President Vladimir Putin's rule. His wife was later released. On Saturday, the US embassy in Moscow also said it was following the rallies, adding that Washington supported "the right of all people to peaceful protest, freedom of expression". "Steps being taken by Russian authorities are suppressing those rights," embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross said on Twitter. Police also detained Lyubov Sobol, a close ally of Navalny's, at the rally. Meanwhile, prosecutors in St Petersburg said in a statement late Saturday that they were probing violations during demonstrations -- including "on the part of law enforcement" and the use of force against an unidentified woman. Also read | Violence by Russian police under scanner after arrest of 3,300 protesters Putin was one of the last global leaders to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory in the US presidential election after the November 3 vote. (with inputs from agencies)

Russian police detained more than 3,000 people and used force to break up rallies across Russia as tens of thousands of protesters ignored the extreme cold and police warnings to demand the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Russian police officers beat protesters at opposition rally

Both US and the&nbsp;European Union have expressed ''deep concerns'' over&nbsp;Russia's response to mass protests in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny&nbsp;on Saturday.

Police clashed violently with protesters in Moscow and arrested more than 2,500 in cities across the country Saturday as Russians took to the streets to denounce Kremlin rule and demand the release of Navalny.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-wife-among-nearly-2000-people-detained-in-russia-at-rallies-358823">Navalny's wife among nearly 2,000 people detained in Russia at rallies</a>

"The United States strongly condemns the use of harsh tactics against protesters and journalists this weekend in cities throughout Russia," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Navalny being taken into custody and the arrests of his supporters were "troubling indications of further restrictions on civil society and fundamental freedoms," he added.

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"We call on Russian authorities to release all those detained for exercising their universal rights and for the immediate and unconditional release of Aleksey Navalny," Price said, using an alternative spelling.

"We urge Russia to fully cooperate with the international community's investigation into the poisoning of Aleksey Navalny and credibly explain the use of a chemical weapon on its soil."

"Following unfolding events in #Russia with concern," Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter as tens of thousands protested in Russia in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

"I deplore widespread detentions, disproportionate use of force, cutting down internet and phone connections. We will discuss on Monday next steps with EU Foreign Ministers."

In Russia tens of thousands nationwide answered Navalny's call to rally, which he issued after he was detained at a Moscow airport on arrival from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent.

Saturday's protests took on an unprecedented geographic scale, spanning more than 100 cities across the country. Previous large-scale opposition demonstrations in 2012 and 2019 were largely centered in Moscow.

Both US and the European Union have expressed ''deep concerns'' over Russia's response to mass protests in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Saturday. Police clashed violently with protesters in Moscow and arrested more than 2,500 in cities across the country Saturday as Russians took to the streets to denounce Kremlin rule and demand the release of Navalny.

Both US and the European Union have expressed ''deep concerns'' over Russia's response to mass protests in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Saturday. Police clashed violently with protesters in Moscow and arrested more than 2,500 in cities across the country Saturday as Russians took to the streets to denounce Kremlin rule and demand the release of Navalny. Also read: Navalny's wife among nearly 2,000 people detained in Russia at rallies "The United States strongly condemns the use of harsh tactics against protesters and journalists this weekend in cities throughout Russia," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. Navalny being taken into custody and the arrests of his supporters were "troubling indications of further restrictions on civil society and fundamental freedoms," he added. "We call on Russian authorities to release all those detained for exercising their universal rights and for the immediate and unconditional release of Aleksey Navalny," Price said, using an alternative spelling. "We urge Russia to fully cooperate with the international community's investigation into the poisoning of Aleksey Navalny and credibly explain the use of a chemical weapon on its soil." "Following unfolding events in #Russia with concern," Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter as tens of thousands protested in Russia in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "I deplore widespread detentions, disproportionate use of force, cutting down internet and phone connections. We will discuss on Monday next steps with EU Foreign Ministers." In Russia tens of thousands nationwide answered Navalny's call to rally, which he issued after he was detained at a Moscow airport on arrival from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent. Saturday's protests took on an unprecedented geographic scale, spanning more than 100 cities across the country. Previous large-scale opposition demonstrations in 2012 and 2019 were largely centered in Moscow.

US, EU express 'deep concerns' over 'widespread detentions' in Russia protests

Russians take to streets to protest against Putin after Navalny's arrest

The Wall Street Journal has described Alexei Navalny as "the man Vladimir Putin fears most". Navalny is a Russian Opposition Coordination Council member, the leader of the Russia of the Future party and the founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

Navalny described as 'the man Putin fears the most'

The violent response by police in Russia has come under review as reports of arrest of more than 3,300 protesters have emerged.&nbsp;

Prosecutors in St Petersburg said in a statement late Saturday that they were probing violations during demonstrations held in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny -- including "on the part of law enforcement" and the use of force against an unidentified woman.

Police clashed with demonstrators in Moscow as tens of thousands took to the streets across the country on Saturday following Navalny's call to protest against President Vladimir Putin's rule.

Putin's fiercest critic was detained at a Moscow airport on arrival a week ago from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent.

OVD Info, which monitors opposition rallies, said on Sunday that police seized at least 3,324 demonstrators across dozens of cities, with 1,320 people detained in Moscow and 490 in the second city Saint Petersburg.

It was the largest number of detentions at opposition rallies in the history of modern Russia.&nbsp;

A number of protesters were also injured at the rallies in the capital and Saint Petersburg.

The statement was released after local media published a video showing a middle-aged woman falling to the ground after being kicked by riot police.

In the video, a woman -- identified as Margarita Yudina -- is seen asking three policemen in full riot gear why they were detaining a young unarmed protester. One of the policeman than kicks her in the stomach.

A representative of Saint Petersburg's Dzhanelidze hospital said that Yudina was hospitalised Saturday night with a head injury.

Saturday's protests took on an unprecedented geographic scale, spanning more than 100 cities across the country.

The violent response by police in Russia has come under review as reports of arrest of more than 3,300 protesters have emerged. Prosecutors in St Petersburg said in a statement late Saturday that they were probing violations during demonstrations held in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny -- including "on the part of law enforcement" and the use of force against an unidentified woman.

The violent response by police in Russia has come under review as reports of arrest of more than 3,300 protesters have emerged. Prosecutors in St Petersburg said in a statement late Saturday that they were probing violations during demonstrations held in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny -- including "on the part of law enforcement" and the use of force against an unidentified woman. Police clashed with demonstrators in Moscow as tens of thousands took to the streets across the country on Saturday following Navalny's call to protest against President Vladimir Putin's rule. Putin's fiercest critic was detained at a Moscow airport on arrival a week ago from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent. OVD Info, which monitors opposition rallies, said on Sunday that police seized at least 3,324 demonstrators across dozens of cities, with 1,320 people detained in Moscow and 490 in the second city Saint Petersburg. It was the largest number of detentions at opposition rallies in the history of modern Russia. A number of protesters were also injured at the rallies in the capital and Saint Petersburg. The statement was released after local media published a video showing a middle-aged woman falling to the ground after being kicked by riot police. In the video, a woman -- identified as Margarita Yudina -- is seen asking three policemen in full riot gear why they were detaining a young unarmed protester. One of the policeman than kicks her in the stomach. A representative of Saint Petersburg's Dzhanelidze hospital said that Yudina was hospitalised Saturday night with a head injury. Saturday's protests took on an unprecedented geographic scale, spanning more than 100 cities across the country.

Violence by Russian police under scanner after arrest of 3,300 protesters

The United States has strongly condemned Russia's use of 'harsh tactics' against protesters and journalists demanding the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

US, EU condemns Russia's crackdown on protesters & journalists

Supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;were set to confront Russian authorities on Saturday at nationwide rallies that the police have declared illegal and vowed to break up.

The gatherings will be the first protests by&nbsp;Navalny's supporters since he returned dramatically to Moscow and was immediately arrested last weekend after recovering in Germany from a nerve agent poisoning in Russia.

He accuses President Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder, which the Kremlin denies.

The stubborn ex-lawyer who has campaigned against Putin for years despite what he describes as an unrelenting state effort to stifle his activity could now face years in jail over legal cases that he calls trumped up.

His supporters are betting on a high-risk strategy to produce a show of anti-Kremlin street support during winter and a pandemic to pressure the authorities into freeing him.

The gamble puts the Kremlin in a quandary as to how it responds, nine months before parliamentary elections.

The West has told Moscow to let him go, sparking new tensions in already strained Russia ties as U.S. President Joe Biden launches his administration.

In a push to galvanise support,&nbsp;Navalny's team released a video about an opulent palace on the Black Sea they alleged belonged to Putin, something the Kremlin denied. The clip had been viewed more than 60 million times as of late Friday.

Police have cracked down in the run-up to the rallies, rounding up several of his allies they accused of calling for illegal protests and jailing at least two of them, including&nbsp;Navalny's spokeswoman, for more than a week each.

Authorities also announced a criminal investigation against&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;supporters over calls urging minors to attend illegal rallies that it said were made on various social networks.

Navalny's allies hope to tap into what polls say are pent-up public frustrations over years of falling wages and economic fallout from the pandemic. But Putin's grip on power looks unassailable and the 68-year-old regularly records an approval rating of over 60%, many times higher than that of&nbsp;Navalny.

Supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny were set to confront Russian authorities on Saturday at nationwide rallies that the police have declared illegal and vowed to break up.

Supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny were set to confront Russian authorities on Saturday at nationwide rallies that the police have declared illegal and vowed to break up. The gatherings will be the first protests by Navalny's supporters since he returned dramatically to Moscow and was immediately arrested last weekend after recovering in Germany from a nerve agent poisoning in Russia. He accuses President Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder, which the Kremlin denies. The stubborn ex-lawyer who has campaigned against Putin for years despite what he describes as an unrelenting state effort to stifle his activity could now face years in jail over legal cases that he calls trumped up. His supporters are betting on a high-risk strategy to produce a show of anti-Kremlin street support during winter and a pandemic to pressure the authorities into freeing him. The gamble puts the Kremlin in a quandary as to how it responds, nine months before parliamentary elections. The West has told Moscow to let him go, sparking new tensions in already strained Russia ties as U.S. President Joe Biden launches his administration. In a push to galvanise support, Navalny's team released a video about an opulent palace on the Black Sea they alleged belonged to Putin, something the Kremlin denied. The clip had been viewed more than 60 million times as of late Friday. Police have cracked down in the run-up to the rallies, rounding up several of his allies they accused of calling for illegal protests and jailing at least two of them, including Navalny's spokeswoman, for more than a week each. Authorities also announced a criminal investigation against Navalny supporters over calls urging minors to attend illegal rallies that it said were made on various social networks. Navalny's allies hope to tap into what polls say are pent-up public frustrations over years of falling wages and economic fallout from the pandemic. But Putin's grip on power looks unassailable and the 68-year-old regularly records an approval rating of over 60%, many times higher than that of Navalny.

Russian critic Navalny's supporters to rally for his release despite warnings

Police detained over 1,000 people and used force to break up rallies around Russia on Saturday as tens of thousands of protesters demanded the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, whose wife was among those detained.

Hundreds arrested during protests in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Police arrest over 1,000 people at Russia protests backing jailed Kremlin foe Navalny

Russian police briefly detained Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, at a protest in Moscow on Saturday, she wrote on her Instagram from inside a police van.&nbsp;She was later released.

Navalny's wife&nbsp;was one of the many&nbsp;people that the police detained Saturday at rallies across Russia in his support following his call to protest against President Vladimir Putin's rule.

The OVD-Info monitoring group said, earlier in the day, that 1,090 people were detained at protests in dozens of Russian cities. A few media reports said the count was to the tune of 2,000.

Police&nbsp;also detained Lyubov Sobol, a close ally of Navalny's, at the rally.&nbsp;He later said&nbsp;the opposition would hold more protests next weekend to demand Navalny's release.

Yulia wrote on her Instagram in Russian -- which meant:&nbsp;"Sorry for the poor quality. Very bad light in the paddy wagon" -- with an accompanying photo.

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In the Russian capital, which usually mobilises the largest rallies, protesters planned to meet on the central Pushkin Square at 2:00 pm (1100 GMT) and march towards the Kremlin. But more than an hour before the planned rally police began detaining people.

Putin's fiercest critic put out the mass rally call after surviving a near-fatal poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent and returning to Moscow last weekend following months of treatment in Germany. He was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport and jailed.

Protests were held early Saturday in the Far East, Siberia and the Urals including Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk and Chita where several thousand turned out, Navalny supporters said.

Saturday's rallies are expected to be a major test of the opposition's ability to mobilise despite increasing Kremlin pressure on critics and the coronavirus pandemic.

Ahead of the demonstrations, Navalny's team released a video investigation into an opulent Black Sea property allegedly owned by Putin who has been in power for 20 years. The two-hour report has been viewed more than 66 million times.

In Vladivostok, demonstrators gathered in the city centre, chanting "Putin is a thief" and "Freedom to Navalny!"

Navalny, who is being held in Moscow's high-security Matrosskaya Tishina jail, thanked his supporters on the eve of the rallies.

"I know perfectly well that there are lots of good people outside of my prison's walls and help will come," he said Friday.

Navalny's wife Yulia said she would join the Moscow protest,&nbsp;"For myself, for him, for our children, for the values and the ideals that we share".

Ahead of the demonstrations several key Navalny aides including his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh were taken into police custody for violating protest laws and handed short jail sentences.

The Investigative Committee on Friday launched a criminal probe into the calls for unauthorised protests.

A hastily organised court on Monday jailed Navalny for 30 days, and his supporters fear that authorities are preparing to sentence him to a long prison term to silence him.&nbsp;

Navalny, 44, rose to prominence a decade ago and has become the central figure of Russia's opposition movement, leading large-scale street protests against corruption and electoral fraud.&nbsp;His arrest drew widespread Western condemnation, with the United States and the European Union calling for his release.

The "Putin's palace" report released by Navalny alleges the Russian leader owns a 17,691 square metre mansion that sits on a property 39 times the size of Monaco.&nbsp;

The Kremlin has denied the property belongs to Putin.

Russian police briefly detained Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, at a protest in Moscow on Saturday, she wrote on her Instagram from inside a police van.

Russian police briefly detained Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, at a protest in Moscow on Saturday, she wrote on her Instagram from inside a police van. She was later released. Navalny's wife was one of the many people that the police detained Saturday at rallies across Russia in his support following his call to protest against President Vladimir Putin's rule. The OVD-Info monitoring group said, earlier in the day, that 1,090 people were detained at protests in dozens of Russian cities. A few media reports said the count was to the tune of 2,000. Police also detained Lyubov Sobol, a close ally of Navalny's, at the rally. He later said the opposition would hold more protests next weekend to demand Navalny's release. Yulia wrote on her Instagram in Russian -- which meant: "Sorry for the poor quality. Very bad light in the paddy wagon" -- with an accompanying photo. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @yulia_navalnaya × In the Russian capital, which usually mobilises the largest rallies, protesters planned to meet on the central Pushkin Square at 2:00 pm (1100 GMT) and march towards the Kremlin. But more than an hour before the planned rally police began detaining people. Putin's fiercest critic put out the mass rally call after surviving a near-fatal poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent and returning to Moscow last weekend following months of treatment in Germany. He was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport and jailed. Protests were held early Saturday in the Far East, Siberia and the Urals including Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk and Chita where several thousand turned out, Navalny supporters said. Saturday's rallies are expected to be a major test of the opposition's ability to mobilise despite increasing Kremlin pressure on critics and the coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of the demonstrations, Navalny's team released a video investigation into an opulent Black Sea property allegedly owned by Putin who has been in power for 20 years. The two-hour report has been viewed more than 66 million times. In Vladivostok, demonstrators gathered in the city centre, chanting "Putin is a thief" and "Freedom to Navalny!" Navalny, who is being held in Moscow's high-security Matrosskaya Tishina jail, thanked his supporters on the eve of the rallies. "I know perfectly well that there are lots of good people outside of my prison's walls and help will come," he said Friday. Navalny's wife Yulia said she would join the Moscow protest, "For myself, for him, for our children, for the values and the ideals that we share". Ahead of the demonstrations several key Navalny aides including his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh were taken into police custody for violating protest laws and handed short jail sentences. The Investigative Committee on Friday launched a criminal probe into the calls for unauthorised protests. A hastily organised court on Monday jailed Navalny for 30 days, and his supporters fear that authorities are preparing to sentence him to a long prison term to silence him. Navalny, 44, rose to prominence a decade ago and has become the central figure of Russia's opposition movement, leading large-scale street protests against corruption and electoral fraud. His arrest drew widespread Western condemnation, with the United States and the European Union calling for his release. The "Putin's palace" report released by Navalny alleges the Russian leader owns a 17,691 square metre mansion that sits on a property 39 times the size of Monaco. The Kremlin has denied the property belongs to Putin.

Navalny's wife among nearly 2,000 people detained in Russia at rallies

Russia on Saturday accused the US embassy in Moscow of publishing routes of planned demonstrations in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and demanded an explanation from American diplomats.

Police on Saturday detained over 1,000 protesters, including Navalny's wife, according to protest monitor OVD Info, as tens of thousands took to the streets to denounce President Vladimir Putin's rule.

"Yesterday the US embassy in Moscow published 'protest routes' in Russian cities and tossed around information about a 'march on the Kremlin,'" foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook.&nbsp;

"US colleagues will have to explain themselves," she added.

The embassy had distributed a "demonstration alert" to US citizens in Russia recommending they avoid protests in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other cities.&nbsp;

The US embassy in Moscow, however, said Saturday it was following the rallies, adding that Washington supported "the right of all people to peaceful protest, freedom of expression."

"Steps being taken by Russian authorities are suppressing those rights," embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross said on Twitter.

The OVD-Info monitoring group said 1,090 people were detained at protests in dozens of Russian cities.

Police also detained Lyubov Sobol, a close ally of Navalny's, at the rally.

Meanwhile, Britain urged Russia to respect international human rights commitments following the detention of more than 1,000 people in Moscow and other Russian cities on Saturday at rallies demanding the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

"We are deeply concerned by the detention of peaceful protesters and continue to monitor the situation closely," the British foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We urge the Russian government to respect and comply with its international commitments on human rights, and release citizens detained during peaceful demonstrations."

Russia on Saturday accused the US embassy in Moscow of publishing routes of planned demonstrations in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and demanded an explanation from American diplomats.

Russia on Saturday accused the US embassy in Moscow of publishing routes of planned demonstrations in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and demanded an explanation from American diplomats. Police on Saturday detained over 1,000 protesters, including Navalny's wife, according to protest monitor OVD Info, as tens of thousands took to the streets to denounce President Vladimir Putin's rule. "Yesterday the US embassy in Moscow published 'protest routes' in Russian cities and tossed around information about a 'march on the Kremlin,'" foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook. "US colleagues will have to explain themselves," she added. The embassy had distributed a "demonstration alert" to US citizens in Russia recommending they avoid protests in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other cities. The US embassy in Moscow, however, said Saturday it was following the rallies, adding that Washington supported "the right of all people to peaceful protest, freedom of expression." "Steps being taken by Russian authorities are suppressing those rights," embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross said on Twitter. The OVD-Info monitoring group said 1,090 people were detained at protests in dozens of Russian cities. Police also detained Lyubov Sobol, a close ally of Navalny's, at the rally. Meanwhile, Britain urged Russia to respect international human rights commitments following the detention of more than 1,000 people in Moscow and other Russian cities on Saturday at rallies demanding the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. "We are deeply concerned by the detention of peaceful protesters and continue to monitor the situation closely," the British foreign ministry said in a statement. "We urge the Russian government to respect and comply with its international commitments on human rights, and release citizens detained during peaceful demonstrations."

Russia accuses US diplomats of publishing Navalny rally routes

The political environment in Russia is getting more intense now, especially after the arrest of the Kremlin critic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/alexei-navalny">Alexei Navalny</a>.

Following the arrest, people are now having to rely on video-sharing platforms such as TikTok and YouTube to get access to news. However, the video-sharing apps have taken steps to restrict content promoting the weekend protests, suggested by Navalny himself.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-authorities-arrest-over-a-dozen-supporters-of-navalny-358757" hreflang="en">Russian authorities arrest over a dozen supporters of Navalny</a>

As per Russian officials, TikTok had deleted some videos promoting the "illegal" weekend protests that were being organised to demand the release of Navalny.

Various posts demanding the release of Navalny have been viewed more than 300 million times on TikTok since this arrest at the start of this week.

Navalny, who is hugely gaining popularity among the youngsters of Russia, have been posting content in favour of Putin's sworn-enemy, despite several warnings by the Russian government.

This has also reached Navalny in his detention centre. "Respect to the schoolchildren who, according to my lawyer, 'wreaked havoc on TikTok'," his team posted on his Instagram account on the detained critic's behalf.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/russian-critic-navalnys-supporters-to-rally-for-his-release-despite-warnings-358735" hreflang="en">Russian critic Navalny's supporters to rally for his release despite warnings</a>

The Russian government has also, now, opened a criminal case into this matter, alleging an attempt to misleading youngsters pf the country into committing illegal acts against the security of themselves and the country.

While TikTok has been taking strict actions, YouTube has also not been completely ignorant to these messages being passed around, The popular video platform has also deleted nearly 50 per cent of the posts claiming it was urging minors to protest.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/eu-chief-has-urged-putin-to-release-navalny-but-kremlin-wont-budge-358602" hreflang="en">EU chief has urged Putin to release Navalny. But Kremlin won't budge</a>

Meanwhile, videos promoting protests have been gaining views and likes at a rapid rate.

Russia media watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed TikTok "deleted 38 per cent of information inciting minors to dangerous illegal actions" and also added Instagram and YouTube to the list.

However, Facebook has claimed that it has not yet removed any of such information.&nbsp;

"We've received requests from the local regulator to restrict access to certain content that calls for protest," a Facebook spokesperson said. "Since this content doesn't violate our Community Standards, it remains on our platform."

The political environment in Russia is getting more intense now, especially after the arrest of the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Following the arrest, people are now having to rely on video-sharing platforms such as TikTok and YouTube to get access to news.

The political environment in Russia is getting more intense now, especially after the arrest of the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Following the arrest, people are now having to rely on video-sharing platforms such as TikTok and YouTube to get access to news. However, the video-sharing apps have taken steps to restrict content promoting the weekend protests, suggested by Navalny himself. Also read| Russian authorities arrest over a dozen supporters of Navalny As per Russian officials, TikTok had deleted some videos promoting the "illegal" weekend protests that were being organised to demand the release of Navalny. Various posts demanding the release of Navalny have been viewed more than 300 million times on TikTok since this arrest at the start of this week. Navalny, who is hugely gaining popularity among the youngsters of Russia, have been posting content in favour of Putin's sworn-enemy, despite several warnings by the Russian government. This has also reached Navalny in his detention centre. "Respect to the schoolchildren who, according to my lawyer, 'wreaked havoc on TikTok'," his team posted on his Instagram account on the detained critic's behalf. Also read| Russian critic Navalny's supporters to rally for his release despite warnings The Russian government has also, now, opened a criminal case into this matter, alleging an attempt to misleading youngsters pf the country into committing illegal acts against the security of themselves and the country. While TikTok has been taking strict actions, YouTube has also not been completely ignorant to these messages being passed around, The popular video platform has also deleted nearly 50 per cent of the posts claiming it was urging minors to protest. Also read| EU chief has urged Putin to release Navalny. But Kremlin won't budge Meanwhile, videos promoting protests have been gaining views and likes at a rapid rate. Russia media watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed TikTok "deleted 38 per cent of information inciting minors to dangerous illegal actions" and also added Instagram and YouTube to the list. However, Facebook has claimed that it has not yet removed any of such information. "We've received requests from the local regulator to restrict access to certain content that calls for protest," a Facebook spokesperson said. "Since this content doesn't violate our Community Standards, it remains on our platform."

TikTok, YouTube delete content promoting 'illegal' protests for Navalny

Detained Kremlin Critic Alexey Navalny supporters are staging protests across Russia to force his release.

Navalny supporters stage protest against his arrest & Prez Putin

Russian authorities on Saturday detained dozens of protesters supporting Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Many of them had taken to the streets after the opposition leader was jailed.

Navalny had called for mass rallies after recovering from a poisoning, which he claimed was done by Russian authorities. He was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok.

He returned to Moscow last weekend after undergoing treatment in Germany. Soon after landing at the Sheremetyevo Airport, he was arrested by Russian authorities.

A series of rallies are planned for today across Russia. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russia has increased pressure on critics.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/russian-critic-navalnys-supporters-to-rally-for-his-release-despite-warnings-358735" hreflang="en">Russian critic Navalny's supporters to rally for his release despite warnings</a>

The first series of protests took place in the Far East and Siberia - places including Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Chita where thousands took to the streets. 
 
Accord to a detention monitor called OVD Info, around 50 people have been detained across 10 cities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/eu-chief-has-urged-putin-to-release-navalny-but-kremlin-wont-budge-358602" hreflang="en">EU chief has urged Putin to release Navalny. But Kremlin won't budge</a>

Before the protests began, authorities had promised a strict crackdown on unsanctioned public events, saying that such attempts would be "immediately suppressed".

Protesters are set to meet in Moscow at 1100 GMT, after which they'll march to the Kremlin.

Russian authorities on Saturday detained dozens of protesters supporting Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Many of them had taken to the streets after the opposition leader was jailed.

Russian authorities on Saturday detained dozens of protesters supporting Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Many of them had taken to the streets after the opposition leader was jailed. Navalny had called for mass rallies after recovering from a poisoning, which he claimed was done by Russian authorities. He was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok. He returned to Moscow last weekend after undergoing treatment in Germany. Soon after landing at the Sheremetyevo Airport, he was arrested by Russian authorities. A series of rallies are planned for today across Russia. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russia has increased pressure on critics. Also read: Russian critic Navalny's supporters to rally for his release despite warnings The first series of protests took place in the Far East and Siberia - places including Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Chita where thousands took to the streets. Accord to a detention monitor called OVD Info, around 50 people have been detained across 10 cities. Also read: EU chief has urged Putin to release Navalny. But Kremlin won't budge Before the protests began, authorities had promised a strict crackdown on unsanctioned public events, saying that such attempts would be "immediately suppressed". Protesters are set to meet in Moscow at 1100 GMT, after which they'll march to the Kremlin.

Russian authorities arrest over a dozen supporters of Navalny

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The Kremlin has dismissed Western demands to release Russia's most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny, saying his calls for mass protests over his arrest were "troubling".

European Council chief Charles Michel demanded the "immediate release" of Navalny in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

The EU had already condemned an attempt to assassinate Navalny and his arrest on his return to Russia after treatment, but Michel has now expressed "grave concerns" directly to Putin. He told the Kremlin chief he would launch a "strategic debate" on EU-Russia relations when he convenes a summit of all 27 EU leaders in March.&nbsp;

"The President of the European Council informed President Putin of the grave concern in the EU and its Member States over recent developments and called to fully and unconditionally respect Alexei Navalny's rights," Michel's office said.

"Charles Michel stated that the EU is united in its call on Russia to swiftly release Mr Navalny and proceed with the investigation into the assassination attempt on him, in full transparency and without further delay."

Navalny, 44, was arrested on Sunday as he returned to Russia from Germany for the first time since he recovered from a near-fatal poisoning with the Soviet-designed Novichok nerve agent in August. He hit back Tuesday with the publication of a corruption investigation into a lavish, $1.35 billion property on Russia's Black Sea coast that he alleged was owned by Putin.

In a two-hour long video accompanying the report on his blog, Navalny described the vast estate as a "state within Russia" in which Putin is "tsar".&nbsp;

Navalny's allies are planning demonstrations on Saturday in dozens of Russian cities in support of the Kremlin critic who was arrested and jailed on his return to Russia following a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent.

Several close Navalny associates, including prominent activist Lyubov Sobol and his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, were detained on Thursday for urging Russians to join the demonstrations and they face hefty fines and short jail stints.

Russian police said Friday that "any such protests will be regarded as a threat to public order and immediately suppressed".

EU members already have several sanctions in place against Russian targets, and capitals are mulling further action after Navalny's detention.

EU leaders met by video conference late Thursday principally to tackle the coronavirus epidemic, but afterwards Michel issued a stern statement calling again for the release of Navalny and his supporters.

The European Parliament also passed a non-binding resolution urging Brussels to block to completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Meanwhile, the anti-corruption campaigner's arrest has triggered a wave of condemnation from Western countries which have called for his immediate release.

The Kremlin said the calls to protest were "troubling" and stressed it would not take into account Western demands to free Navalny.

"This is absolutely a domestic affair and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The leading Kremlin critic has repeatedly led large-scale street protests against Putin, including in 2011-2012 when tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest widespread claims of electoral fraud in parliamentary elections.

(with inputs from agencies)

The Kremlin has dismissed Western demands to release Russia's most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny, saying his calls for mass protests over his arrest were "troubling".

The Kremlin has dismissed Western demands to release Russia's most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny, saying his calls for mass protests over his arrest were "troubling". European Council chief Charles Michel demanded the "immediate release" of Navalny in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. The EU had already condemned an attempt to assassinate Navalny and his arrest on his return to Russia after treatment, but Michel has now expressed "grave concerns" directly to Putin. He told the Kremlin chief he would launch a "strategic debate" on EU-Russia relations when he convenes a summit of all 27 EU leaders in March. "The President of the European Council informed President Putin of the grave concern in the EU and its Member States over recent developments and called to fully and unconditionally respect Alexei Navalny's rights," Michel's office said. "Charles Michel stated that the EU is united in its call on Russia to swiftly release Mr Navalny and proceed with the investigation into the assassination attempt on him, in full transparency and without further delay." Navalny, 44, was arrested on Sunday as he returned to Russia from Germany for the first time since he recovered from a near-fatal poisoning with the Soviet-designed Novichok nerve agent in August. He hit back Tuesday with the publication of a corruption investigation into a lavish, $1.35 billion property on Russia's Black Sea coast that he alleged was owned by Putin. In a two-hour long video accompanying the report on his blog, Navalny described the vast estate as a "state within Russia" in which Putin is "tsar". Navalny's allies are planning demonstrations on Saturday in dozens of Russian cities in support of the Kremlin critic who was arrested and jailed on his return to Russia following a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent. Several close Navalny associates, including prominent activist Lyubov Sobol and his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, were detained on Thursday for urging Russians to join the demonstrations and they face hefty fines and short jail stints. Russian police said Friday that "any such protests will be regarded as a threat to public order and immediately suppressed". EU members already have several sanctions in place against Russian targets, and capitals are mulling further action after Navalny's detention. EU leaders met by video conference late Thursday principally to tackle the coronavirus epidemic, but afterwards Michel issued a stern statement calling again for the release of Navalny and his supporters. The European Parliament also passed a non-binding resolution urging Brussels to block to completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. Meanwhile, the anti-corruption campaigner's arrest has triggered a wave of condemnation from Western countries which have called for his immediate release. The Kremlin said the calls to protest were "troubling" and stressed it would not take into account Western demands to free Navalny. "This is absolutely a domestic affair and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The leading Kremlin critic has repeatedly led large-scale street protests against Putin, including in 2011-2012 when tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest widespread claims of electoral fraud in parliamentary elections. (with inputs from agencies)

EU chief has urged Putin to release Navalny. But Kremlin won't budge

Kremlin on Tuesday denied accusations made by&nbsp;Alexei Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic who was jailed at the weekend, who had claimed&nbsp;that an opulent palace belonged to the Russian leader.

Kremlin&nbsp;spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the palace allegations were old and untrue.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alexei-navalny-due-in-court-on-wednesday-kremlin-troubled-by-calls-of-illegal-protests-357725">Navalny due in court on Wednesday; Kremlin 'troubled' by calls of protests</a>

The allegations, which first surfaced in 2010 when a businessman wrote about them to then-President Dmitry Medvedev complaining of official graft, came as Navalny's supporters urge people to join nationwide protests on Saturday.

Navalny and his anti-corruption foundation published what they said were previously unseen photographs and detailed 3-D visualizations based on floor plans of the lavish interior along with a paper trail they said proved the 100 billion-rouble ($1.36 billion) Black Sea palace ultimately belonged to Putin.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/alexei-navalny-urges-his-supporters-to-hit-the-streets-says-dont-be-silent-take-to-the-streets-357651/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The video, which has attracted more than 3 million views on YouTube, showed the palace contained a casino, theater, ornate Tsarist-style interiors and an underground ice rink.

Navalny and his allies have released several investigations into alleged official corruption, using them to try to increase support for the opposition politician and his movement.

Navalny is being held in pre-trial detention for alleged parole violations after returning from Russia on Sunday for the first time since being poisoned last summer.

A Facebook events page for the planned protest in Moscow suggested around 2,000 people planned to go.

Navalny said in the video that it was time for Russians to force a change in leadership.

"Stop waiting and spending our lives and our taxes on the enrichment of these people," he said. "Don't be silent!"

Navalny faces four legal cases, all of which he says are politically motivated, that could see him jailed for years if found guilty.

A court in Moscow is due to hear one of them on Wednesday - allegations that he defamed a World War Two veteran, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Peskov told reporters earlier on Tuesday that the&nbsp;Kremlin&nbsp;regarded Navalny's protest calls as alarming, but said it did not fear mass demonstrations. Mass gatherings are banned in Moscow during the coronavirus pandemic.

Peskov said the authorities would not be influenced by foreign countries calling for sanctions against Russia over its treatment of Navalny.

"This is an absolutely domestic matter and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it," he said.

Kremlin on Tuesday denied accusations made by Alexei Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic who was jailed at the weekend, who had claimed that an opulent palace belonged to the Russian leader.

Kremlin on Tuesday denied accusations made by Alexei Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic who was jailed at the weekend, who had claimed that an opulent palace belonged to the Russian leader. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the palace allegations were old and untrue. Also read: Navalny due in court on Wednesday; Kremlin 'troubled' by calls of protests The allegations, which first surfaced in 2010 when a businessman wrote about them to then-President Dmitry Medvedev complaining of official graft, came as Navalny's supporters urge people to join nationwide protests on Saturday. Navalny and his anti-corruption foundation published what they said were previously unseen photographs and detailed 3-D visualizations based on floor plans of the lavish interior along with a paper trail they said proved the 100 billion-rouble ($1.36 billion) Black Sea palace ultimately belonged to Putin. The video, which has attracted more than 3 million views on YouTube, showed the palace contained a casino, theater, ornate Tsarist-style interiors and an underground ice rink. Navalny and his allies have released several investigations into alleged official corruption, using them to try to increase support for the opposition politician and his movement. Navalny is being held in pre-trial detention for alleged parole violations after returning from Russia on Sunday for the first time since being poisoned last summer. A Facebook events page for the planned protest in Moscow suggested around 2,000 people planned to go. Navalny said in the video that it was time for Russians to force a change in leadership. "Stop waiting and spending our lives and our taxes on the enrichment of these people," he said. "Don't be silent!" Navalny faces four legal cases, all of which he says are politically motivated, that could see him jailed for years if found guilty. A court in Moscow is due to hear one of them on Wednesday - allegations that he defamed a World War Two veteran, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Peskov told reporters earlier on Tuesday that the Kremlin regarded Navalny's protest calls as alarming, but said it did not fear mass demonstrations. Mass gatherings are banned in Moscow during the coronavirus pandemic. Peskov said the authorities would not be influenced by foreign countries calling for sanctions against Russia over its treatment of Navalny. "This is an absolutely domestic matter and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it," he said.

Kremlin rejects Navalny's accusations regarding Putin's wealth dossier

A Russian court has ordered opposition leader Alexey Navalny to be kept in custody until February 15. Meanwhile, after the court's orders, Navalny put out a video message and urged his supporters to hit the streets and not remain silent.

Opposition leader Navalny urges his supporters to hit the streets

Russia's poisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny has been detained for 30 days after his arrival from Berlin. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why Russian President Vladimir Putin feels so threatened by Navalny.

Gravitas: Russia detains Opposition leader Alexey Navalny

Kremlin critic and famous Russian opposition leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/alexei-navalny">Alexei Navalny</a> was sentenced to 30 days in jail within hours of landing in Russia. He is now due in court once again on separate charges of defaming a World War II veteran, his lawyer reported.

The case was opened by the Investigative Committee which is responsible for handling major crimes. The committee opened a probe for libel against Navalny in June for "discrediting the honour and dignity" of a veteran.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alexei-navalny-to-be-detained-until-mid-feb-calls-his-supporters-to-protest-357488">Alexei Navalny to be detained until mid-Feb; calls his supporters to protest</a>

Incident being questioned is when the Kremlin critic took to the social media platform Twitter to criticise several people, which included a veteran who had featured om a promotional video of constitutional amendments which were passed last year, allowing the Russian president to remain in office until 2036.

Navalny had slammed the veteran as a "traitor" and had labelled him as a "shame of the country" and had accused him to be "without a conscience".

The probe has been re-opened now after his arrest. It was earlier suspended five months back when Navalny had fallen critically ill following an alleged poison attack by the Putin-led Kremlin.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-merkel-us-uk-eu-urge-russia-to-release-putin-critic-navalny-357385" hreflang="en">Germany's Merkel, US, UK, EU urge Russia to release Putin critic Navalny</a>

This news has come after Navalny was sentenced to 30 days jail time in a makeshift court on Monday, and was later transferred to Matrosskaya Tishina detention centre in Moscow where he will be serving 14 days of the quarantine period for coronavirus.

Due to the quarantine period, the hearing on Wednesday may be scheduled in video format. However, his lawyers and team are still unclear and uninformed about it, they claim.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed all requests by the Western governments and groups who had called for Navalny's immediate release and had accused the Putin-led government of trying to silence all opposition voices.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/alexei-navalny-urges-his-supporters-to-hit-the-streets-says-dont-be-silent-take-to-the-streets-357651">WATCH|</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/alexei-navalny-urges-his-supporters-to-hit-the-streets-says-dont-be-silent-take-to-the-streets-357651/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We cannot and are not going to take these statements into account," said&nbsp;President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "This is absolutely a domestic affair and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it."

The Kremlin has also urged people to not to listen to Navalny's call for protest and has said the government is 'troubled' by Navalny's calls for 'illegal' protests.

Kremlin critic and famous Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 30 days in jail within hours of landing in Russia. He is now due in court once again on separate charges of defaming a World War II veteran, his lawyer reported.

Kremlin critic and famous Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 30 days in jail within hours of landing in Russia. He is now due in court once again on separate charges of defaming a World War II veteran, his lawyer reported. The case was opened by the Investigative Committee which is responsible for handling major crimes. The committee opened a probe for libel against Navalny in June for "discrediting the honour and dignity" of a veteran. Also read| Alexei Navalny to be detained until mid-Feb; calls his supporters to protest Incident being questioned is when the Kremlin critic took to the social media platform Twitter to criticise several people, which included a veteran who had featured om a promotional video of constitutional amendments which were passed last year, allowing the Russian president to remain in office until 2036. Navalny had slammed the veteran as a "traitor" and had labelled him as a "shame of the country" and had accused him to be "without a conscience". The probe has been re-opened now after his arrest. It was earlier suspended five months back when Navalny had fallen critically ill following an alleged poison attack by the Putin-led Kremlin. Also read| Germany's Merkel, US, UK, EU urge Russia to release Putin critic Navalny This news has come after Navalny was sentenced to 30 days jail time in a makeshift court on Monday, and was later transferred to Matrosskaya Tishina detention centre in Moscow where he will be serving 14 days of the quarantine period for coronavirus. Due to the quarantine period, the hearing on Wednesday may be scheduled in video format. However, his lawyers and team are still unclear and uninformed about it, they claim. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed all requests by the Western governments and groups who had called for Navalny's immediate release and had accused the Putin-led government of trying to silence all opposition voices. WATCH| "We cannot and are not going to take these statements into account," said President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "This is absolutely a domestic affair and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it." The Kremlin has also urged people to not to listen to Navalny's call for protest and has said the government is 'troubled' by Navalny's calls for 'illegal' protests.

Alexei Navalny due in court on Wednesday; Kremlin 'troubled' by calls of 'illegal' protests

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Monday called for people to take to the streets to protest after his arrest.

Alexei Navalny urges his supporters to hit the streets, says 'Don't be silent, take to the streets'

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