Nearly 1500 reported arrested at Navalny rallies in Russia
Police arrested nearly 1500 people yesterday during a day of demonstrations throughout Russia calling for freedom for imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose health reportedly is in severe decline after three weeks on a hunger strike, according to a group that monitors political detentions.
The largest of the protests took place in Moscow, where thousands marched through the centre city. Some of the people arrested were seized before the protests even began, including two top Navalny associates in Moscow.
Navalny’s team called for the unsanctioned demonstrations after weekend reports that his health is deteriorating and his life is in danger. The 44-year-old Navalny was arrested in January upon his return from Germany, where he had spent five months recovering from a nerve agent poisoning he blames on the Kremlin. Russian officials have denied the accusation.