The imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny encouraged Russians to continue protesting the “obviously insane” Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine.
Navalny, who was sentenced to prison in February 2021 by a Russian court and has been targeted by the Russian president for speaking out against his administration, has offered his two cents on the Ukraine invasion.
“We cannot wait even a day longer. Wherever you are. In Russia, Belarus, or on the other side of the planet. Go out onto the main square of your city every weekday at 19.00 and at 14.00 at weekends and on holidays,” Navalny implored his followers in a statement released by his spokesperson.
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“Let’s at least not become a nation of frightened silent people. Of cowards who pretend not to notice the aggressive war against Ukraine unleashed by our obviously insane tsar,” he added.
Navalny emphasized that “Putin is not Russia” and called for protesters to “come out to the streets and fight for peace.”
A Russian judge sentenced Navalny to more than three years in prison in February 2021 for failing to meet his parole terms under a 2014 suspended sentence for embezzlement. He had previously stayed in Germany after being poisoned with a nerve agent in December 2020. The sudden imprisonment led the United States and European Union to “coordinate” a series of sanctions to protect Navalny. The Russian leader has since been at the center of several negotiations between the U.S. and Russia.
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Many Russian residents have taken to the streets to protest Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, leading to several arrests. More than 6,000 Russian residents have been detained due to their decision to oppose the invasion.
Huge protests throughout Moscow, Russia as they shout, “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine)?#kyiv #ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #Russian #russianinvasion pic.twitter.com/IXFI8O0Opl
— Dave Techz (@techz_dave) February 26, 2022
Anti-war protesters have been seen across Russia, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and several other cities. Several Russian celebrities, such as Russian rapper Oxxxymiron, have stated their opposition to the war.
