Russian police detained several activists in central Moscow today who were demanding the release of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalni, who turns 47 on Sunday.
According to the organization OVD-Info, a dozen activists with banners such as "You are not alone, Freedom for Navalni" have already been arrested in Pushkin Square.
Also taken to the police station was a woman with a balloon reading "Happy Birthday," a man handing out leaflets, an activist wearing a "Take care of Russia" T-shirt and a man wearing a jacket with the acronym SHIZÓ, which means cell. as punishment.
Law enforcement also detained journalists covering the protest at the foot of the Alexander Pushkin monument in central Moscow, where numerous riot police have been deployed.
Around the square, a traditional meeting place for the opposition to the Kremlin, there are parked several buses, inside which is the national guard, as well as trucks and police vans.
This morning, an activist carrying a banner - "Freedom for the kangaroo. Putin, spider" - was also arrested in Red Square, alluding to Navalni's request in the prison that he is in to send him a kangaroo to keep him company. in the punishment cell.
OVD-Info also reported several detainees in other Russian cities, from the European side, such as Saint Petersburg, to the Urals and Siberia.
Protest actions are taking place today in more than 120 cities around the world, including London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Sydney, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Mexico and Sao Paulo, according to the Telegram channel of Navalni's team.
The opposition convened this world day two weeks ago in support of its leader, who has spent nearly 900 days behind bars, of which almost 200 have been spent in punishment cells in a prison in the Vladimir region, less than 200 kilometers from Moscow.
Navalni's collaborators, who are all in exile abroad, have accused the prison authorities of trying to poison him in prison.
"Life is made in such a way that social progress and a better future are achieved only if some people are willing to pay for their right to have convictions. The more people like that there are, the less is the price to pay for all", Navalni wrote today on his Telegram account.
The Russian Justice rejected in November 2022 an appeal by Navalni's lawyers and confirmed the eight-year prison sentence that was imposed on him for fraud and contempt.
