EU Discusses Imposing Sanctions Against Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry has lodged a complaint with the US ambassador regarding the information about protests on the embassy's social media on January 23. According to Meduza, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov met with US Ambassador John Sullivan.

On January 23, protests took place in Moscow and various cities across Russia under the slogan "Freedom for Navalny." The US embassy published the routes of the protests on its website and social media.

Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, commented on the embassy's publications, labeling them as "guidance and instructions," as well as an interference in Russia's internal affairs.

The media also reports that Leonid Volkov, head of the regional headquarters for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, announced new actions planned for January 31 in support of the political figure.

According to Reuters, the European Union will discuss the possibility of imposing new sanctions against Russia due to the arrests that occurred during protests supporting Alexei Navalny. Ahead of the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called for the immediate release of peaceful protesters arrested during Saturday's demonstrations.

In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the protests demanding Navalny's release as illegal and dangerous.