The Russian government is apparently fuming after the United States issued an alert about anti-corruption protests and included the locations and times.
The U.S. Embassy noted the demonstrations, which are being planned for Saturday in cities throughout Russia in support of jailed activist Alexei Navalny, on Friday. Navalny is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biggest critics and is believed to have been poisoned by Russian intelligence operatives in 2020. Navalny was arrested upon his return to Russia, prompting anger among the opposition.
“These demonstrations are likely to be unauthorized. Given the likely substantial police presence and possible dispersal of demonstrators into other areas of the cities, U.S. citizens should avoid these demonstrations and any demonstration-related activities,” the embassy said in the alert.
After warning citizens to steer clear, the U.S. listed the locations within a dozen cities where protests are expected as well as when they are set to kick off. For example, a demonstration is planned for 2 p.m. local time near Pushkin Square in Moscow and will march toward the Kremlin.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signaled its anger with the move in an article published on Friday by state-run media outlet TASS. It also bashed the U.S. alert in a statement on its Telegram channel.
“All that coincides with Washington’s provocative doctrinal guidelines to encourage ‘protests in the countries with unwanted governments,’” the Foreign Ministry said. “Any attempts of this ‘coverage’ of unauthorized rallies will be regarded as gross interference in our country’s domestic affairs and will lead to a corresponding response.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to the State Department for comment about the alert and subsequent response from the Russian government but did not immediately receive a response.
Navalny, 44, has been an anti-corruption crusader and a major thorn in Putin’s side. He spent months recovering in Germany after being poisoned with a Soviet government-produced nerve agent while traveling over the summer. Navalny vowed to return to Russia despite Putin’s power, and when he did, he was immediately arrested.
The matter provides a test for the Biden administration about how it will handle Putin’s and Russia’s response to Saturday’s protests and how it could weigh into future foreign policy decisions. While President Biden has signaled his support for extending the New START nuclear treaty, he will also reportedly break the mold of post-Cold War presidents who attempted to reset relations between Washington and Moscow as they enter office.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan called for Navalny’s release, and secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken said congressional sanctions against Russia would be “extremely helpful in being able to impose … costs and consequences” against Moscow.
