Hundreds of staged a protest in Russia in support of minority rights activist fail. Russian authorities arrested at least seven protesters in Ufa city fo Russia.

Protest in Russia over jailing of activist Bashkir, police arrest at least seven people

The defence ministers of Russia, Turkiye and Syria met in Moscow on Wednesday, the first such talks since a war broke out in Syria. It was also the first meeting between Turkish and Syrian defence ministers since the start of the war in 2011.

Turkiye, Syria, Russia defense ministers meet for first talks since 2011

Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of partial military mobilisation has pushed Moscow into a state of utter chaos. Russian protesters have taken to the streets over the mobilisation order.

Russian protesters take to the streets over mobilisation order

The Russian Police has arrested eight people in Russia's far-eastern city of Magadan on Wednesday, according to the Open Russia opposition group, as protests began across the country over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's deteriorating health in prison.

Several Navalny allies were detained on Wednesday morning, hours before President Vladimir Putin was due to deliver a state-of-the-nation speech.

Yesterday, The Moscow government had refused to authorize rallies scheduled for April 21 and May 1 because of the coronavirus, the Russian capital's security department had said on Tuesday.

The department said that the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and the Moscow Trade Union Federation were among those who submitted appeals to have public rallies across Moscow authorized for April 21 and May 1.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Russian Police has arrested eight people in Russia's far-eastern city of Magadan on Wednesday, according to the Open Russia opposition group, as protests began across the country over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's deteriorating health in prison.

The Russian Police has arrested eight people in Russia's far-eastern city of Magadan on Wednesday, according to the Open Russia opposition group, as protests began across the country over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's deteriorating health in prison. Several Navalny allies were detained on Wednesday morning, hours before President Vladimir Putin was due to deliver a state-of-the-nation speech. Yesterday, The Moscow government had refused to authorize rallies scheduled for April 21 and May 1 because of the coronavirus, the Russian capital's security department had said on Tuesday. The department said that the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and the Moscow Trade Union Federation were among those who submitted appeals to have public rallies across Moscow authorized for April 21 and May 1. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian police detain eight at Navalny protests in far east

President Vladimir Putin will deliver a state-of-the-nation speech to Russians on Wednesday as supporters of his fiercest critic, Alexei&nbsp;Navalny, plan nationwide protests over his deteriorating health in jail.

Putin, who makes a point of never uttering&nbsp;Navalny's name, has said his speech to both houses of parliament will focus on projects to boost economic growth, which has been hit by foreign sanctions, low oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic.

But as he starts his address at noon (0900 GMT), demonstrators in the far east port of Vladivostok are due to take to the streets in the first of a wave of rolling protests across Russia in support of the 44-year-old&nbsp;Navalny, gravely weakened by a three-week hunger strike.

Both sides are braced for a showdown. Previous rallies in support of&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;have been broken up by force, with thousands of arrests, and authorities have said Wednesday's gatherings will be illegal.

The trial of strength will be closely watched abroad, at a time of deep crisis in Russia's relations with the West over its treatment of&nbsp;Navalny, a major build-up of troops on the Ukrainian border and a rash of other issues that led Washington to impose new sanctions on Moscow last week, and the Kremlin to respond in kind.

Navalny, who survived a nerve agent poisoning last year that Russia denies carrying out, was sentenced in February to 2-1/2 years for parole violations related to an embezzlement case that he says was politically motivated.

He went on hunger strike on March 31 over what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to provide him with adequate treatment for acute leg and back pain. Officials say he has received normal medical care, as would any other convict.

Navalny's supporters have called for what they hope will be the biggest protests in modern Russian history, saying his life is hanging by a thread and demanding he receives proper medical attention.

On the eve of the protests, monitoring group OVD-Info reported police raids at&nbsp;Navalny's regional offices in the cities of Krasnodar and Kurgan, and arrests of individual activists in about a dozen cities.&nbsp;Navalny's team has said protests will be held in more than 100 cities and towns.

The venue for Putin's address, the Manege exhibition hall adjacent to the Kremlin, stands on the square&nbsp;Navalny's allies have designated as the location of their rally in Moscow on Wednesday evening.

President Vladimir Putin will deliver a state-of-the-nation speech to Russians on Wednesday as supporters of his fiercest critic, Alexei Navalny, plan nationwide protests over his deteriorating health in jail.

President Vladimir Putin will deliver a state-of-the-nation speech to Russians on Wednesday as supporters of his fiercest critic, Alexei Navalny, plan nationwide protests over his deteriorating health in jail. Putin, who makes a point of never uttering Navalny's name, has said his speech to both houses of parliament will focus on projects to boost economic growth, which has been hit by foreign sanctions, low oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic. But as he starts his address at noon (0900 GMT), demonstrators in the far east port of Vladivostok are due to take to the streets in the first of a wave of rolling protests across Russia in support of the 44-year-old Navalny, gravely weakened by a three-week hunger strike. Both sides are braced for a showdown. Previous rallies in support of Navalny have been broken up by force, with thousands of arrests, and authorities have said Wednesday's gatherings will be illegal. The trial of strength will be closely watched abroad, at a time of deep crisis in Russia's relations with the West over its treatment of Navalny, a major build-up of troops on the Ukrainian border and a rash of other issues that led Washington to impose new sanctions on Moscow last week, and the Kremlin to respond in kind. Navalny, who survived a nerve agent poisoning last year that Russia denies carrying out, was sentenced in February to 2-1/2 years for parole violations related to an embezzlement case that he says was politically motivated. He went on hunger strike on March 31 over what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to provide him with adequate treatment for acute leg and back pain. Officials say he has received normal medical care, as would any other convict. Navalny's supporters have called for what they hope will be the biggest protests in modern Russian history, saying his life is hanging by a thread and demanding he receives proper medical attention. On the eve of the protests, monitoring group OVD-Info reported police raids at Navalny's regional offices in the cities of Krasnodar and Kurgan, and arrests of individual activists in about a dozen cities. Navalny's team has said protests will be held in more than 100 cities and towns. The venue for Putin's address, the Manege exhibition hall adjacent to the Kremlin, stands on the square Navalny's allies have designated as the location of their rally in Moscow on Wednesday evening.

Navalny supporters seek to drown out Putin speech with mass protests

A Moscow court on Tuesday fined TikTok more than $30,000 for failing to delete posts calling for minors to join unsanctioned protests in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The court said on its Telegram channel that the video-sharing platform had been found guilty of failing to remove information that violates Russian law and sentenced to an administrative fine of $34,000 (2.6 million rubles/28,000 euros).

The ruling comes as Russia ramps up pressure on foreign&nbsp;tech&nbsp;platforms, with a Moscow court also hitting Twitter on Friday with three fines totalling 8.9 million rubles ($116,700/99,000 euros) for the same violation as TikTok.

In January, authorities accused foreign social media platforms including TikTok and Twitter of interfering in Russia's domestic affairs by not deleting calls to rallies in support of Navalny late that month and early February.

Russia's media watchdog Roskomnadzor said last month it would draw up protocols demanding the foreign social media platforms be fined for failing to delete the calls after it had warned them to do so.

Roskomnadzor described the calls to protests as "inciting teenagers" to take part in "illegal activities", or "unauthorised mass events".&nbsp;

Last month the media watchdog also began throttling the speeds of Twitter's services, accusing it of failing to remove content related to child pornography, drug use and calls for minors to commit suicide.

On Monday, it gave the US&nbsp;tech&nbsp;giant an ultimatum of deleting the posts by mid-May or face a complete blockage in the country.&nbsp;

Moscow regularly fines foreign internet companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Google for failing to comply with its legislation.

TikTok came into the view of the authorities more recently after videos on the platform in January calling for Russians to join rallies in support of Navalny garnered hundreds of thousands of views.&nbsp;

President Vladimir Putin that month complained about the growing influence of large technology companies that he said are competing with states.&nbsp;

A Moscow court on Tuesday fined TikTok more than $30,000 for failing to delete posts calling for minors to join unsanctioned protests in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

A Moscow court on Tuesday fined TikTok more than $30,000 for failing to delete posts calling for minors to join unsanctioned protests in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. The court said on its Telegram channel that the video-sharing platform had been found guilty of failing to remove information that violates Russian law and sentenced to an administrative fine of $34,000 (2.6 million rubles/28,000 euros). The ruling comes as Russia ramps up pressure on foreign tech platforms, with a Moscow court also hitting Twitter on Friday with three fines totalling 8.9 million rubles ($116,700/99,000 euros) for the same violation as TikTok. In January, authorities accused foreign social media platforms including TikTok and Twitter of interfering in Russia's domestic affairs by not deleting calls to rallies in support of Navalny late that month and early February. Russia's media watchdog Roskomnadzor said last month it would draw up protocols demanding the foreign social media platforms be fined for failing to delete the calls after it had warned them to do so. Roskomnadzor described the calls to protests as "inciting teenagers" to take part in "illegal activities", or "unauthorised mass events". Last month the media watchdog also began throttling the speeds of Twitter's services, accusing it of failing to remove content related to child pornography, drug use and calls for minors to commit suicide. On Monday, it gave the US tech giant an ultimatum of deleting the posts by mid-May or face a complete blockage in the country. Moscow regularly fines foreign internet companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Google for failing to comply with its legislation. TikTok came into the view of the authorities more recently after videos on the platform in January calling for Russians to join rallies in support of Navalny garnered hundreds of thousands of views. President Vladimir Putin that month complained about the growing influence of large technology companies that he said are competing with states.

Russia fines TikTok over calls for minors to join protests

Russia celebrates Valentine's Day by forming human chains in support for Navalny's wife

Russia's capital on Sunday was more reminiscent of a besieged fortress than a modern city.

Brutal clamp down of protesters by Russian police; Watch video

Toilet brushes and blue pants: Unusual symbols of Russia's protests

Allies of jailed Putin critic Alexei Navalny are preparing for nationwide protests even when authorities are trying to crack down on the dissenters. Alexei Navalny, one of the most prominent opposition figures in Russia is currently in jail and awaiting trial. Navalny's aides have called for fresh nationwide rallies to demand Navalny's release.

This week several Navalny associates, including lawyer Lyubov Sobol and his brother Oleg, have been placed under house arrest until late March pending charges for violating coronavirus restrictions by calling people to join protests.

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Russian authorities have issued warnings against participation in these rallies and have threatened of criminal charges.

In an unprecedented move police in the capital Moscow announced the closure of seven metro stations and said movement of pedestrians would be limited in the city centre.

The authorities have also said that some centrally-located restaurants and shops will close.

Police detained 44-year-old Navalny at a Moscow airport on January 17 as he arrived from Germany, where he had been recovering from exposure to a Soviet-designed nerve toxin.

A makeshift court at a police station ordered the anti-graft campaigner placed in custody until his trial on charges of violating the terms of a 2014 suspended sentence.

Sunday's Moscow rally is due to take place outside the headquarters of the Federal Security Service, Russia's main security agency, which Navalny says carried out the near-fatal poisoning attack on the orders of President Vladimir Putin.

(With AFP inputs)

Allies of jailed Putin critic Alexei Navalny are preparing for nationwide protests even when authorities are trying to crack down on the dissenters. Alexei Navalny, one of the most prominent opposition figures in Russia is currently in jail and awaiting trial.

Allies of jailed Putin critic Alexei Navalny are preparing for nationwide protests even when authorities are trying to crack down on the dissenters. Alexei Navalny, one of the most prominent opposition figures in Russia is currently in jail and awaiting trial. Navalny's aides have called for fresh nationwide rallies to demand Navalny's release. This week several Navalny associates, including lawyer Lyubov Sobol and his brother Oleg, have been placed under house arrest until late March pending charges for violating coronavirus restrictions by calling people to join protests. × Russian authorities have issued warnings against participation in these rallies and have threatened of criminal charges. In an unprecedented move police in the capital Moscow announced the closure of seven metro stations and said movement of pedestrians would be limited in the city centre. The authorities have also said that some centrally-located restaurants and shops will close. Police detained 44-year-old Navalny at a Moscow airport on January 17 as he arrived from Germany, where he had been recovering from exposure to a Soviet-designed nerve toxin. A makeshift court at a police station ordered the anti-graft campaigner placed in custody until his trial on charges of violating the terms of a 2014 suspended sentence. Sunday's Moscow rally is due to take place outside the headquarters of the Federal Security Service, Russia's main security agency, which Navalny says carried out the near-fatal poisoning attack on the orders of President Vladimir Putin. (With AFP inputs)

Navalny supporters plan fresh nationwide protests despite crackdown

Allies and supporters of Putin-critic Alexei Navalny took to streets across Russia and demanded the opposition leader's release from jail. The police detained over 450 protesters in Siberia and eastern Russia&nbsp;on Sunday. Navalny allies had called for and planning new agitation in spite of authorities ramping up pressure on the opposition. Alexei Navalny's trial is set to start on February 2.

The first protests took place in the Far East, including the port city of Vladivostok where several dozen protesters gathered in the city's central square despite police closing it off ahead of the rally.&nbsp;

"The desire to live in a free country is stronger than the fear of being detained," 25-year-old student Andrei, who preferred not to give his last name, told AFP.

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&nbsp;

AFP footage from Vladivostok showed dozens of protesters escaping the police on the frozen waters of the Amur Bay and circle dancing.

Russian authorities have already warned people against participating against the protest rallies. The police have said that criminal charges will be slapped against the protesters.

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According to independent monitors, at least 500&nbsp;people were detained in more than a dozen cities before the expected start of the rally in Moscow, which usually mobilises the largest crowds.

In an unprecedented move police in the capital announced the closure of seven metro stations and said movement of pedestrians would be limited in the city centre.

'Wake them up'

"The majority is on our side. Let's wake them up," Navalny said on Thursday in a message from Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina, a high-security detention centre.

Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets of over 100 cities across the country last Saturday to protest Putin's 20-year-rule.

More than 4,000 demonstrators were detained while authorities launched a series of criminal probes.

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Authorities are also targeting online platforms demanding they delete posts with calls for rallies or face fines.

The country's media watchdog said Friday it summoned representatives of several social networks, including Facebook and TikTok, for failing to comply.

This week several Navalny associates, including lawyer Lyubov Sobol and his brother Oleg, have been placed under house arrest until late March pending charges for violating coronavirus restrictions by calling people to join protests.

Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh was detained late Saturday also over violating virus measures, the same day she was due to walk free after a nine-day jail term for violating protest laws.&nbsp;

The head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, Ivan Zhdanov, said Saturday the Investigative Committee informed him that a criminal case on fraud charges had been launched against Navalny.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

Allies and supporters of Putin-critic Alexei Navalny took to streets across Russia and demanded the opposition leader's release from jail. The police detained over 450 protesters in Siberia and eastern Russia on Sunday.

Allies and supporters of Putin-critic Alexei Navalny took to streets across Russia and demanded the opposition leader's release from jail. The police detained over 450 protesters in Siberia and eastern Russia on Sunday. Navalny allies had called for and planning new agitation in spite of authorities ramping up pressure on the opposition. Alexei Navalny's trial is set to start on February 2. The first protests took place in the Far East, including the port city of Vladivostok where several dozen protesters gathered in the city's central square despite police closing it off ahead of the rally. "The desire to live in a free country is stronger than the fear of being detained," 25-year-old student Andrei, who preferred not to give his last name, told AFP. × AFP footage from Vladivostok showed dozens of protesters escaping the police on the frozen waters of the Amur Bay and circle dancing. Russian authorities have already warned people against participating against the protest rallies. The police have said that criminal charges will be slapped against the protesters. According to independent monitors, at least 500 people were detained in more than a dozen cities before the expected start of the rally in Moscow, which usually mobilises the largest crowds. In an unprecedented move police in the capital announced the closure of seven metro stations and said movement of pedestrians would be limited in the city centre. 'Wake them up' "The majority is on our side. Let's wake them up," Navalny said on Thursday in a message from Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina, a high-security detention centre. Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets of over 100 cities across the country last Saturday to protest Putin's 20-year-rule. More than 4,000 demonstrators were detained while authorities launched a series of criminal probes. Authorities are also targeting online platforms demanding they delete posts with calls for rallies or face fines. The country's media watchdog said Friday it summoned representatives of several social networks, including Facebook and TikTok, for failing to comply. This week several Navalny associates, including lawyer Lyubov Sobol and his brother Oleg, have been placed under house arrest until late March pending charges for violating coronavirus restrictions by calling people to join protests. Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh was detained late Saturday also over violating virus measures, the same day she was due to walk free after a nine-day jail term for violating protest laws. The head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, Ivan Zhdanov, said Saturday the Investigative Committee informed him that a criminal case on fraud charges had been launched against Navalny. (With AFP inputs)

Navalny allies take to the streets despite crackdown, over 450 detained

Police were going to cafes in civilian clothes, showing their ID cards and asking to speak with managers about turning off internet connections ahead of the protests

Siberia: Russians join fresh protests in support of 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

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

Why there are Pro-Navalny protests in Russia?

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

Russia has asked social networks, including the video-sharing app TikTok, to stop the spread of posts encouraging minors to take part in unsanctioned rallies on Saturday in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin`s most prominent critic, was detained at the weekend and later jailed for alleged parole violations after flying back to Russia for the first time since being poisoned by a military grade nerve agent.

He accuses Putin of ordering his murder, which the Kremlin denies. His supporters have called for nationwide protests on Saturday against his detention.

The prosecutor general`s office said in a statement that the rallies were illegal and access to websites calling for people to take part in them should be restricted.

The interior ministry said officers would be ready to enforce public order and would bring those calling for the protests to justice.

Communications watchdog Roskomnadzor late on Wednesday asked TikTok and Russia`s largest social network, VKontakte, to prevent the dissemination of what it called information that could lead minors to engage in illegal activities that put their life and health in danger.

Videos posted by Russian users on TikTok in support of Navalny saying they plan to join the rallies remained on the platform as of Thursday.

Navalny`s Anti-Corruption Foundation has promised to reimburse protesters for state fines they incur, his close ally Leonid Volkov said in a YouTube video.

Russian lawmakers in 2018 backed legislation to make it a jailable offence to call on anyone under 18 to attend unauthorised street protests, a move Navalny at the time said was designed to frustrate his own activity.

In Russia, protests of more than one person require the authorities` advance consent.

Russia has asked social networks, including the video-sharing app TikTok, to stop the spread of posts encouraging minors to take part in unsanctioned rallies on Saturday in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Russia has asked social networks, including the video-sharing app TikTok, to stop the spread of posts encouraging minors to take part in unsanctioned rallies on Saturday in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny, President Vladimir Putin`s most prominent critic, was detained at the weekend and later jailed for alleged parole violations after flying back to Russia for the first time since being poisoned by a military grade nerve agent. He accuses Putin of ordering his murder, which the Kremlin denies. His supporters have called for nationwide protests on Saturday against his detention. The prosecutor general`s office said in a statement that the rallies were illegal and access to websites calling for people to take part in them should be restricted. The interior ministry said officers would be ready to enforce public order and would bring those calling for the protests to justice. Communications watchdog Roskomnadzor late on Wednesday asked TikTok and Russia`s largest social network, VKontakte, to prevent the dissemination of what it called information that could lead minors to engage in illegal activities that put their life and health in danger. Videos posted by Russian users on TikTok in support of Navalny saying they plan to join the rallies remained on the platform as of Thursday. Navalny`s Anti-Corruption Foundation has promised to reimburse protesters for state fines they incur, his close ally Leonid Volkov said in a YouTube video. Russian lawmakers in 2018 backed legislation to make it a jailable offence to call on anyone under 18 to attend unauthorised street protests, a move Navalny at the time said was designed to frustrate his own activity. In Russia, protests of more than one person require the authorities` advance consent.

Russia tells social networks: Stop promoting anti-Kremlin Navalny protests to minors

Thousands of residents of Khabarovsk have been protesting against the replacement of Governor Sergei Furgal with a Kremlin official since July. What added to these protests was a salmon crisis in Russia's Far East -- to be precise, the region around the endless estuary of the Amur River on Russia’s Pacific coast.

The Amur is one of Asia’s great waterways.

It is a piece of commercial fishing infrastructure where Russians feel cheated, lied to and ignored. The wild salmon fishery that they once took for granted is gone. They blame it on Kremlin as it granted large concessions to enterprises that strung enormous nets across the river’s mouth.

People’s anger over their depleted fish stock is so widespread that it has been a driving force behind the anti-Kremlin protests that have been shaking the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, on the Amur, since early July.

This also makes for one of the reasons the Russians turned away from Putin.

These companies that were given the rights to installed huge, stationary nets in the estuary and at the river’s mouth.

People here, it's said, can’t catch enough to put on the table, while commercial fishermen reap huge profits.

The protests, now in their second month, are driven by regional pride and economic frustration -- Salmon had been part of life here for generations, and now Moscow had taken it away and offered nothing in return.

According to a New York Times report, in the regional parliament, the speaker, Irina Zikunova, said that many Khabarovsk residents “are guided by impulse, are guided by emotions, are guided by feelings” rather than by facts.&nbsp;

The fundamental issue, activists say, is poor federal oversight that failed to detect a natural decline in the wild salmon population after the large catch in 2016.

The apparent failure of governance implies more expensive fish for Khabarovsk residents -- a parable for all of Russia. The protests in Khabarovsk show how easily public anger over those failures can now boil over.

Thousands of residents of Khabarovsk have been protesting against the replacement of Governor Sergei Furgal with a Kremlin official since July. What added to these protests was a salmon crisis in Russia's Far East -- to be precise, the region around the endless estuary of the Amur River on Russia’s Pacific coast.

Thousands of residents of Khabarovsk have been protesting against the replacement of Governor Sergei Furgal with a Kremlin official since July. What added to these protests was a salmon crisis in Russia's Far East -- to be precise, the region around the endless estuary of the Amur River on Russia’s Pacific coast. The Amur is one of Asia’s great waterways. It is a piece of commercial fishing infrastructure where Russians feel cheated, lied to and ignored. The wild salmon fishery that they once took for granted is gone. They blame it on Kremlin as it granted large concessions to enterprises that strung enormous nets across the river’s mouth. People’s anger over their depleted fish stock is so widespread that it has been a driving force behind the anti-Kremlin protests that have been shaking the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, on the Amur, since early July. This also makes for one of the reasons the Russians turned away from Putin. These companies that were given the rights to installed huge, stationary nets in the estuary and at the river’s mouth. People here, it's said, can’t catch enough to put on the table, while commercial fishermen reap huge profits. The protests, now in their second month, are driven by regional pride and economic frustration -- Salmon had been part of life here for generations, and now Moscow had taken it away and offered nothing in return. According to a New York Times report, in the regional parliament, the speaker, Irina Zikunova, said that many Khabarovsk residents “are guided by impulse, are guided by emotions, are guided by feelings” rather than by facts. The fundamental issue, activists say, is poor federal oversight that failed to detect a natural decline in the wild salmon population after the large catch in 2016. The apparent failure of governance implies more expensive fish for Khabarovsk residents -- a parable for all of Russia. The protests in Khabarovsk show how easily public anger over those failures can now boil over.

How a fish crisis stoked anti-Kremlin protests in Russia's Far East

Furgal, the Khabarovsk region governor, was arrested on July 9 and flown to Moscow where he was put in jail for two months.

Protests continue in Russia for the release of governor Sergei Furgal

Tens of thousands marched in the Russian far east on Saturday, the third such weekend protest in a row, to express their anger over what they say is President Vladimir Putin's mishandling of a local political crisis.

Thousands protest against Putin in Russia's far east

Tens of thousands marched in the Russian far east on Saturday, the third such weekend protest in a row, to express their anger over what they say is President Vladimir Putin's mishandling of a local political crisis.

Residents of Khabarovsk, around 3,800 miles (6,110 km) and seven time zones east of Moscow, are unhappy about the detention this month of the wider region's popular governor, Sergei Furgal, who was arrested on murder charges he denies.

His arrest, which his supporters say was politically motivated, triggered the protests and created a headache for the Kremlin which is trying to troubleshoot a COVID-19-induced drop in real incomes and keep a lid on unrest.

Protesters chanted "Putin resign!" and "Putin is a thief!". Demonstrators say they want Furgal, who they think has been set up, to be flown back from Moscow and put on trial in Khabarovsk.

City authorities estimated around 6,500 people had taken part. One local media outlet put the number at up to 20,000, while other outlets and opposition activists said upwards of 50,000 had attended and that it was the biggest protest of its kind so far.

"Give us our Furgal back," said a local businesswoman called Viktoria. "This is our choice."

The protests have highlighted anger among some over what they see as policies emanating from detached Moscow-based authorities.

Supporters of Furgal, a member of the nationalist LDPR party, feel he is being belatedly punished for defeating a candidate from the ruling pro-Putin United Russia party in 2018. The Kremlin says Furgal has serious charges to answer.

Such sustained demonstrations are unusual for Russia's regions, as is the fact that the authorities have not yet moved to break them up.

In an apparent move to defuse tensions, Putin on Monday named a new acting governor. But protesters said they felt insulted by the choice of Mikhail Degtyaryov, who has no connection with the region, and have demanded he step down.

Tens of thousands marched in the Russian far east on Saturday, the third such weekend protest in a row, to express their anger over what they say is President Vladimir Putin's mishandling of a local political crisis. Residents of Khabarovsk, around 3,800 miles (6,110 km) and seven time zones east of Moscow, are unhappy about the detention this month of the wider region's popular governor, Sergei Furgal, who was arrested on murder charges he denies. His arrest, which his supporters say was politically motivated, triggered the protests and created a headache for the Kremlin which is trying to troubleshoot a COVID-19-induced drop in real incomes and keep a lid on unrest. Protesters chanted "Putin resign!" and "Putin is a thief!". Demonstrators say they want Furgal, who they think has been set up, to be flown back from Moscow and put on trial in Khabarovsk. City authorities estimated around 6,500 people had taken part. One local media outlet put the number at up to 20,000, while other outlets and opposition activists said upwards of 50,000 had attended and that it was the biggest protest of its kind so far. "Give us our Furgal back," said a local businesswoman called Viktoria. "This is our choice." The protests have highlighted anger among some over what they see as policies emanating from detached Moscow-based authorities. Supporters of Furgal, a member of the nationalist LDPR party, feel he is being belatedly punished for defeating a candidate from the ruling pro-Putin United Russia party in 2018. The Kremlin says Furgal has serious charges to answer. Such sustained demonstrations are unusual for Russia's regions, as is the fact that the authorities have not yet moved to break them up. In an apparent move to defuse tensions, Putin on Monday named a new acting governor. But protesters said they felt insulted by the choice of Mikhail Degtyaryov, who has no connection with the region, and have demanded he step down.

Tens of thousands protest against Putin in Russian far east

Residents of Khabarovsk, around 3,800 miles (6,110 km) and seven time zones east of Moscow, are unhappy about the detention this month of the wider region's popular governor, Sergei Furgal, who was arrested on murder charges he denies.

Tens of thousands protest against Putin in Russian far east, 26 detained in Moscow

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said on July 20 that he would shut down his Anti-Corruption Foundation due to hefty court fines imposed over one of its investigations, but would try to re-launch it under a new name. Watch report.

WION Dispatch: Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny shuts anti-corruption foundation

Navalny shuts anti-corruption foundation: Protests demanding Putin's resignation

Tens of thousands of people rallied Saturday in the Russian far eastern city of Khabarovsk in new protests in support of a popular governor and in a rare show of defiance against the Kremlin.

Russia: Protests over arrest of regional governor in Moscow

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