Several allies of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been imprisoned or fined on the eve of nationwide protests in his support this Saturday.
At least 150,000 people have signed up for the rallies in Navalny’s support across 70 Russian cities, marking “going” or “interested” on Facebook and Vkontakte event pages. Organizers also aimed the protests against Russia’s ruling elite following Navalny’s viral video exposé into President Vladimir Putin’s alleged $1.3 billion seaside “palace.”
The arrests and fines against Navalny’s allies come as Moscow police vowed to “immediately suppress” the unauthorized rallies on Saturday.
Despite the threat of a crackdown, Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya said she plans to attend the protest.
Below is an overview of key Navalny associates, as well as their lawyers, who have faced legal action as of mid-Friday.
— Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokeswoman:
Jailed, less than 24 hours after her detention, for nine days on charges of organizing public events without notifying the authorities.
— Anastasia Panchenko, Navalny office coordinator in the southern city of Krasnodar:
Jailed for 10 days on charges of organizing a public event without notifying the authorities.
— Lyubov Sobol, Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK) lawyer:
Fined 250,000 rubles ($3,350) on charges of disobeying police orders. Spared 30 days in prison because she is the parent of a minor.
— Georgy Alburov, lead FBK investigator:
Jailed for 10 days on charges of organizing a public event without notifying the authorities.
— Yekaterina Vedernikova, Navalny office coordinator in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok:
Jailed for three days on charges of organizing a public event without notifying the authorities.
Lawyers
— Vladlen Los’, FBK lawyer, citizen of Belarus:
Ordered to leave Russia by Sunday, Jan. 25 and not return until 2023. Faces 15 days of administrative arrest for disobeying police orders.
— Mansur Gilmanov, Apologia Protesta legal aid group lawyer:
Beaten at a police station where he had arrived to represent Los’, kept in detention overnight. Threatened with up to 15 days of administrative arrest for disobeying police orders.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
