Yulia Navalnaya has joined protesters outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, as scores of people were arrested for demonstrating their anger over Vladimir Putin’s sham elections.
Up to 51 people have been detained across 14 Russian cities today. There are at least 23 detainees in Kazan and 10 in Moscow, according to the OVD-Info monitoring group.
Known as “Noon Against Putin”, Russian citizens frustrated with the leader’s rule are being called to head to the voting booths all at the same time: Midday, 17 March, or 9am UK time.
“We want this dark time to end. We want a clear, normal future,” the campaign’s website says. “But we, citizens of our country, with our pain and our hope, are not noticeable either to the authorities or to each other.
“When we come to the polling stations, we will show others and see for ourselves that there are many of us. We can become a force that cannot be hidden behind drawn percentages.”
Meanwhile, Russia claimed Ukraine had fired up to four drones at Moscow as part of “terrorist activity” to disrupt the Kremlin’s sham election.
Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia attends protest in Moscow
Yulia Navalnaya has attended a protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin.
Kira Yarmysh, who worked as spokesperson for Alexei Navalny – who died last month while incarcerated on bogus charges in an Arctic penal colony – shared footage of his widow demonstrating outside the embassy:
Andy Gregory17 March 2024 12:41
Watch: Russia general election voters queue at polling station in Saint Petersburg
Watch: Russia general election voters queue at polling station in Saint Petersburg
Footage shows voters queuing at a polling station in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday (17 March). The sham election is widely expected to confirm Vladimir Putin’s fifth term of presidency, set to last for at least another six years. Putin, 71, faces little competition; his opponents are either in jail or in exile abroad, and the most prominent – Alexei Navalny – died in a remote Arctic penal colony last month. Voting closes at 9pm in Moscow with the results announced shortly after.
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 12:30
Mary Dejevsky: Yes, the Russian election is rigged – but there could still be surprises for Putin
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 12:00
Pictured: Russians vote in sham election
A woman is checked before entering a polling station in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday
(AP)
Two voters cast their ballots, which include Putin and three Kremlin-vetted candidates, on Sunday
(REUTERS)
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 11:34
Russia elections: Everything you need to know about sham presidential polls that will hand Putin fifth term
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 10:58
Up to 47 Russians detained during protest vote
More than 47 people have been detained in connection to the presidential election taking place in Russia today, the OVD-Info protest-monitoring group has said.
The organisation said the arrests had taken place across 13 cities. Russians turned out to vote as part of a Noon protest against Vladimir Putin.
In Moscow, voters could be seen queuing up outside polling stations as police stood nearby.
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 10:56
Pictured: Russians line up at noon following Yulia Navalny’s call for protest
Police officers stand guard next to Russians queuing at a polling station in Moscow around noon on Sunday
(REUTERS)
People stand in a line to enter a polling station around noon on the final day of the presidential election in Moscow, Russia
(REUTERS)
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 10:30
Putin’s opposition know his election is a sham. They have a plan for change
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 10:00
Noon Against Putin: Alexei Navalny’s final plan to disrupt Russia’s sham elections
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 08:40
Call for protests as Russian sham election enters day 3
Critics of president Vladimir Putin have called for protests at Russian polling stations on the final day of the sham presidential elections.
There have been sporadic acts of protests in the first two days of the polls, with a spate of arrests of Russians accused of pouring dye into ballot boxes.
Alexei Navalny, Kremlin critic and opposition leader, before his death had called on Russians to stage protests on Sunday. Now, his widow Yulia Navalnaya, has reiterated his call.
She called for protesters to spoil ballots by writing “Navalny” on them or vote for candidates instead of Mr Putin, AFP reported
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 March 2024 08:00
