The 2020 Russian protestswere a continuation of the previous demonstrations from 2017-2018 and 2019 caused by authoritarianrule of Vladimir Putin, repression of opposition, 2020 constitutional amendment which increased Putin’s power and allowed him to stay in power until 2036, and the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny 2020. The protests began on 29 February with a march in Moscow in memory of a killed former Deputy Prime Minister and Putin’s critic Boris Nemtsov, during which several opposition figures, including Navalny and Grigory Yavlinsky were giving speeches and accusing President Putin for assassination of Nemtsov. Similar rallies were held in others cities, including Saint Petersburg. Another demand of the opposition was to release Sergei Furgal, a popular Governor of Khabarovsk Krai, whose arrest was viewed by critics as politically motivated. Opposition leader Navalny was poisoned with Novichok in August by the FSB, resulting in his flight to Berlin, Germany for a medical treatment. When he returned to Russia on 17 January 2021, he was arrested and imprisoned, which fueled another wave of protests which was violently suppressed by the Putin’s regime’s forces.
The 2021 Russian protests, also known as Navalny Protests, began on 23 January 2021 in support of the opposition leader Alexei Navalny after he was immediately detained upon returning to Russia after being sent to Germany for treatment following his poisoning the previous year. Days before protests began, a film by Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) called Putin’s Palace, which revolves around the connection between president Vladimir Putin and a palace allegedly being built for him, was released. On the first day, protests were held in 122 towns and cities across Russia in what were one of the largest anti-government demonstrations since protests were held against the results of legislative elections in 2011 and Putin’s re-election in 2012. Unsanctioned by the authorities, the protests were met with police crackdowns, with thousands detained. As a result, Navalny’s team announced a suspension of street protests on 4 February, stating that they would focus on legislative elections that would be held later in the year, and later announcing a shift from street protests to courtyard protests to avoid direct confrontation with police. In response to Navalny’s deterioration of health while in prison, street protests were held again on 21 April for the last time. Despite the protests, Navalny’s suspended sentence of three and a half years was replaced with a prison sentence on 2 February. Following the protests, the Moscow prosecutor’s office on 16 April formally requested the Moscow City Court to designate organizations linked to Navalny including the FBK and his headquarters as extremist organizations, claiming: “Under the disguise of liberal slogans, these organizations are engaged in creating conditions for the destabilization of the social and socio-political situation.” On 9 June, the organizations were designated as extremist and liquidated by the court. In March 2022, Navalny was sentenced to an additional nine years in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement and contempt of court in a new trial.
The 2020 Russian protests were a continuation of the previous demonstrations from 2017-2018 and 2019 caused by authoritarian rule of Vladimir Putin, repression of opposition, 2020 constitutional amendment which increased Putin’s power and allowed him to stay in power until 2036, and the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny 2020. The protests began on 29 February with a march in Moscow in memory of a killed former Deputy Prime Minister and Putin’s critic Boris Nemtsov, during which several opposition figures, including Navalny and Grigory Yavlinsky were giving speeches and accusing President Putin for assassination of Nemtsov. Similar rallies were held in others cities, including Saint Petersburg. Another demand of the opposition was to release Sergei Furgal, a popular Governor of Khabarovsk Krai, whose arrest was viewed by critics as politically motivated. Opposition leader Navalny was poisoned with Novichok in August by the FSB, resulting in his flight to Berlin, Germany for a medical treatment. When he returned to Russia on 17 January 2021, he was arrested and imprisoned, which fueled another wave of protests which was violently suppressed by the Putin’s regime’s forces.
The 2021 Russian protests, also known as Navalny Protests, began on 23 January 2021 in support of the opposition leader Alexei Navalny after he was immediately detained upon returning to Russia after being sent to Germany for treatment following his poisoning the previous year. Days before protests began, a film by Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) called Putin’s Palace, which revolves around the connection between president Vladimir Putin and a palace allegedly being built for him, was released. On the first day, protests were held in 122 towns and cities across Russia in what were one of the largest anti-government demonstrations since protests were held against the results of legislative elections in 2011 and Putin’s re-election in 2012. Unsanctioned by the authorities, the protests were met with police crackdowns, with thousands detained. As a result, Navalny’s team announced a suspension of street protests on 4 February, stating that they would focus on legislative elections that would be held later in the year, and later announcing a shift from street protests to courtyard protests to avoid direct confrontation with police. In response to Navalny’s deterioration of health while in prison, street protests were held again on 21 April for the last time. Despite the protests, Navalny’s suspended sentence of three and a half years was replaced with a prison sentence on 2 February. Following the protests, the Moscow prosecutor’s office on 16 April formally requested the Moscow City Court to designate organizations linked to Navalny including the FBK and his headquarters as extremist organizations, claiming: “Under the disguise of liberal slogans, these organizations are engaged in creating conditions for the destabilization of the social and socio-political situation.” On 9 June, the organizations were designated as extremist and liquidated by the court. In March 2022, Navalny was sentenced to an additional nine years in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement and contempt of court in a new trial.
The 2021 Russian election protests, also known as the “For Fair Elections” protests, began in September 2021 due to alleged large-scale electoral fraud of the 2021 Russian legislative election.
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Tijdens grote demonstraties blijkt hoe bang de Russische autoriteiten zijn voor Navalny’s beweging / Court ruled that Navalny’s three and a half year suspended sentence was to be replaced with a prison sentence / Meerdere nieuwssites berichtten dat Navalny naar een ‘ziekenhuis’ wordt overgeplaatst / Honderden betogers gearresteerd bij pro-Navalny-bijeenkomsten / Leider oppositiegroepering uit vliegtuig gehaald in Sint-Petersburg / VS en VK halen uit naar Rusland om Navalny / Authorities’ Treatment of Navalny is Escalating the Protests
Protesters in Moscow chant «Down with Putin» and clap, passing cars beep in support
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