Russia: Protests continue in Khabarovsk on August 22 /update 16

Event

Around 1500 people gathered in the eastern city of Khabarovsk on Saturday, August 22, for the seventh consecutive weekend of anti-Kremlin protests over the arrest of former Khabarovsk Krai governor Sergei Furgal and President Vladimir Putin's management of a regional political crisis. Protesters have peacefully marched with posters demanding freedom for Furgal. Media sources suggest that demonstrators also voiced their support over the protests taking place in Belarus against the country's disputed presidential vote, as well as in support of the prominent anti-Kremlin activist Alexei Navalny, who was hospitalized on Thursday, August 20, after collapsing on a flight. Navalny was transferred to a hospital in Germany on Saturday from the Siberian city of Omsk after his supporters claimed that he had been poisoned.

Future protests are likely in the city in the medium term. A heightened security presence and localized travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of all demonstrations.

Context

Fugal was arrested on July 9 under suspicion of involvement in the murders of three businessmen between 2004 and 2005. Opposition groups have questioned why Furgal has been arrested 15 years after the crimes he is accused of and claimed that Furgal's detention is linked to a crackdown on the opposition following the recent vote on constitutional reforms that enable President Vladimir Putin to seek two further terms in office.

Advice

Those in Khabarovsk are advised to avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of arrest, refrain from discussing political subjects in public or on social media, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities, and anticipate localized disruption near any protest sites.