The Russian government is on edge as it braces for a second weekend of protests in support of jailed activist Alexei Navalny.
Navalny, who was allegedly poisoned by Russian intelligence operatives using a variant of the Novichok nerve agent while traveling, spent months recovering in Germany before returning to his home country. On arrival, he was arrested and jailed, prompting outrage among his supporters who took to the streets on Jan. 23 in a show of solidarity.
Thousands of those who joined the mass demonstrations were also arrested in an effort by Russian authorities to clamp down on opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and authorities are anticipating even more demonstrations on Saturday.
“They can’t put everyone in jail,” Navalny said in a letter thanking protesters.
The letter apparently alluded to the Belarusian protests against longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko, according to the Guardian. Belarus has been rocked by mass protests since Lukashenko’s summer reelection, which activists say was rigged in his favor.
Navalny’s supporters called on protesters to rally Saturday near the FSB headquarters in Moscow. The FSB is the domestic intelligence agency believed to be behind Navalny’s attempted assassination. Navalny was denied an appeal by a Russian court for his release from jail on Thursday, prompting further indignation from his followers.
“Right now, everything that the government wants, it gets, even if it breaks the law,” said Olga Mikhailova, the 44-year-old activist’s lawyer.
Navalny’s team released a video showing an opulent $1.35 billion palace allegedly built for the Russian strongman featuring a casino, skating rink, and vineyard. Putin denied the claims, but the video has already been viewed by tens of millions of people.
“Alexei is facing a serious prison sentence for challenging Putin, investigating his own poisoning, and telling all of Russia about the president’s palace,” a notice encouraging demonstrations read.
Navalny’s detention and the arrests of protesters have prompted international criticism, with President Biden speaking to Putin about the matter during the two leaders’ first phone call. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday that Biden “did not hold back in conveying his concern about the treatment of Alexei Navalny and the treatment of protesters.”
“He never held back as it relates to President Putin or his concerns about the actions of the Russian government, and he certainly conveyed that clearly during the call,” she added.
When reached for comment by the Washington Examiner, a State Department spokesperson said, “We condemn the Russian government’s sustained efforts to silence the voices [of] the Russian people, including those of the opposition.”
