Russia: Alexeï Navalny denounces personal enrichment of Vladimir Putin

The leader of the opposition to Vladimir Putin Alexey Navalny, in Moscow, December 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

This is Alexei Navalny's response to Vladimir Putin.

Arrested upon his return from Germany on Sunday, the opponent posted a video on the internet denouncing the corruption and personal enrichment of the Russian president.

The film, which already exceeds 3 million views, focuses on the real estate heritage of Vladimir Putin.

And on a huge and luxurious palace, which Vladimir Putin would have built, according to the opponent, on the shores of the Black Sea.

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We present to you the most secret place in Russia, Putin's Palace near Gelendzhik… Here it is in front of you, it is the largest private residence in Russia.

Nothing can be compared to it.

It's a new Versailles, a new Winter Palace, a real king's residence,

”says Alexeï Navalny in this video.

The tone is scathing, and the images are impressive.

According to Alexeï Navalny, the palace, which construction began 15 years ago, covers more than 17,000 square meters.

Unheard of luxury, it has a casino, a theater, and even an underground skating rink.

In total all this cost 100 billion rubles, more than a billion euros.

Putin's friends, who had the right to steal everything in Russia thanks to him, thanked him by bringing him this sum.

That's why we're talking about the biggest bribe in history,

”Navalny continues.

The opponent provides supporting documents that the palace belongs to the Russian president, even if formally it is nominees who are the owners.

At the start of the video, Alexei Navalny explains that he waited until he returned to Russia to broadcast it.

"

If we had done it while I was abroad, I would have been accused of cowardice 

", he explains, before launching a call for mobilization.

"

We will only live normally when we stop tolerating this corruption and if they refuse to hold free elections then we will take to the streets, and kick them out of power in this way!" 

"

Asked about the accusations made by the opponent in this new video, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected them outright - while admitting not having watched the images broadcast by Alexei Navalny.

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  • Russia

  • Vladimir Poutine

  • Alexei Navalny