Protests Across Russia as Detentions Rise

During protests supporting political figure Alexei Navalny on January 31, detentions have reached 553 across various cities in Russia. Prior to the unauthorized demonstrations advocating for Navalny’s defense, police in St. Petersburg have surrounded the city center. This has been reported by the newspaper Kommersant.

Access to Nevsky Prospekt and nearby streets within a 1-kilometer radius has been blocked, and Palace Square is closed. Nearby metro stations are also shut. Arrests have occurred during these events.

According to a statement from the city’s transport committee, “The reinforcement of public safety measures has impacted the operation of public ground transportation.”

Currently, the highest number of detentions is reported in Vladivostok, with 112 individuals taken into custody. Other cities with significant detentions include Krasnoyarsk (84), Novosibirsk (73), Novokuznetsk (31), Irkutsk (27), and Barnaul (26).

It is worth noting that Alexei Navalny was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport on January 17, immediately upon returning from Germany.