Alexei Navalny’s wife joins tens of thousands of supporters calling for his freedom across Russia as police arrest 1,700 protesters
Alexei Navalny‘s wife Yulia joined tens of thousands of Russians at protests calling for the opposition leader’s release on Wednesday, as police arrested more than 1,700 demonstrators.
Protests were organised by allies of the hunger-striking Kremlin critic over his failing health in jail.
His spokeswoman was jailed for 10 days, and another close ally detained, on Wednesday, the same day that President Vladimir Putin delivered a state-of-the-nation speech in which he told the West not to cross Russia’s ‘red lines’ and pointedly made no mention of Navalny.
The US and France have warned Russia over consequences if Navalny is allowed to die in custody.
France’s foreign minister told Russia on Thursday that the European Union would hold President Vladimir Putin and Russian authorities directly responsible if hunger-striking Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny died and it would impose new sanctions
