Russia: Opposition supporters detained prior to protests May 4 /update 2

Event

Police detained supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in several cities on Friday, May 4. According to activists, individuals working with Navalny’s team were arrested in Tambov, Ryazan, Krasnoyarks, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar, Cheboksary, and Kemerovo. Police officers also search Navalny’s regional headquarters in Yekaterinburg and confiscated leaflets advertising upcoming protests. All of the individuals were detained for violating regulations on holding public gatherings.

As of May 4, Navalny and activist Lyubov Sobol are still planning to hold an anti-government rally in Moscow along Tverskaya Street between Belorusskaya Square and Okhotny Ryad. Localized traffic disruptions and heightened security measures are anticipated in Moscow up to and during Putin’s inauguration. Clashes between demonstrators and police are likely as the protest is not authorized.

Context

On April 30, the Moscow district attorney’s office released a statement warning against holding unauthorized protests in the city. Additional anti-government demonstrations are planned on Sunday, May 6, prior to President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin on Monday, May 7.

Official authorization is required for all protests and other large public gatherings in Russia; police sometimes use force to disperse unauthorized demonstrations. Navalny organized a number of large anti-government rallies in Moscow in late 2017 and early 2018. Putin faced no serious opposition in elections held in March 2018, easily winning a fourth term in office. Prominent opposition leader Navalny was barred from running due to previous arrests.

Advice

Individuals in Moscow, and Russia more generally, are advised to avoid any potential protests as a precaution and to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.