Russia: police increase searches and arrests of Navalny relatives
A police vehicle near the apartment of Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny, in Moscow, January 27, 2021. AFP - NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA
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2 min
In Russia, Alexeï Navalny is appealing his pre-trial detention.
The Russian opponent was sentenced to 30 days in jail pending trial.
A decision that his lawyers have decided to challenge in court.
At the same time, pressure is increasing on the relatives and supporters of Alexeï Navalny, with a whole series of searches and arrests over the past 24 hours.
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The scene has gone viral on social networks, while the police are preparing to search her apartment, a trade unionist close to
Alexeï Navalny
challenges them by taking to the piano.
Anastasia Vasylieva will finally be picked up by the police and placed in detention for a period of 48 hours.
Several opposition figures, close to Alexeï Navalny, have also been placed behind bars, most of them for having called to demonstrate despite the coronavirus.
A pretext devoid of any legal basis in the eyes of lawyer Ivan Jdanov, one of Alexeï Navalny's closest lieutenants: “
It is an attempt by the authorities to intimidate us, and to prevent the demonstration on Sunday.
It is a desperate attempt to put an end to these demonstrations, because the government is afraid of this mobilization in the street.
That's why he reacts this way.
"
A new repressive turn of the screw
The searches also targeted Alexey Navalny's apartment where
his wife Yulia was located
.
The homes of several journalists were also searched, as well as the premises of the anti-corruption foundation run by the opponent.
Among those arrested are his brother Oleg, one of the figures of his movement Lioubov Sobol and the Pussy Riot Maria Alekhina.
This new repressive turn of the screw comes as supporters of Alexeï Navalny launched a new call to take to the streets this Sunday.
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To read: Russia: can pro-Navalny mobilization undermine Putin's power?
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Russia
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Vladimir Poutine
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