Nearly 1,500 reported arrested at Alexei Navalny rallies in Russia
- The imprisoned opposition leader’s health is reportedly in severe decline after three weeks on hunger strike
- Navalny’s team had called for nationwide protests the same day that Putin gave his annual state-of-the-nation address
Police arrested nearly 1,500 people on Wednesday 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 of hunger striking, 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 top Navalny associates.
Navalny’s team called for the unsanctioned demonstrations after weekend reports that his health is deteriorating and his life was in danger.
“The situation with Alexei is indeed critical, and so we moved up the day of the mass protests,” said Vladimir Ashurkov, a close Navalny ally and executive director of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption.
“Alexei’s health has sharply deteriorated, and he is in a rather critical condition. Doctors are saying that judging by his test [results], he should be admitted into intensive care.”
