MOSCOW (AP) – A Russian court on Thursday dismissed opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s appeal against his arrest, while authorities detained several of his allies and issued warnings to social media companies after tens of thousands swarmed the streets in over 100 Russian cities last weekend to demand release. .
Navalny appeared in court via video link from prison, denouncing the criminal case against him as part of the government’s efforts to intimidate the opposition.
“You will not be able to frighten tens of millions of people who have been robbed by that government,” he said. “Yes, you have the strength to put my handcuffs on now, but it won’t last forever.”
Navalny, 44, the best-known critic of President Vladimir Putin’s government, was arrested on January 17 when he returned from Germany, where he recovered for five months from a nerve poisoning he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have dismissed the charges.
Navalny was arrested and jailed for 30 days at the request of the Russian Correctional Service, which charged that he violated the probation conditions of his suspended sentence following a 2014 money laundering conviction that was dismissed as politically driven. He is also currently facing charges in two separate criminal investigations.
Before the Moscow region court dismissed the appeal of his recent arrest, defense attorneys argued that Navalny was unable to register with authorities during his rehabilitation in Germany, as required by probation. His lawyers also charged that Navalny’s rights to a fair trial were repeatedly violated during his arrest.
Navalny described his capture after a previous court hearing that was quickly held at a police station as a mockery of the justice system.
“It was demonstrative lawlessness meant to scare me and everyone else,” he told the Moscow court.
Navalny supporters are organizing another round of rallies on Sunday. Police on Wednesday searched Navalny’s apartment, a rented accommodation where his wife, Julia, lived, and the homes of several of his employees and supporters.
Navalny’s brother, Oleg Navalny, his closest ally, Lyubov Sobol, Dr. Anastasia Vasilyeva of the Navalny-backed Alliance of Doctors and Maria Alyokhina of the Pussy Riot punk collective were held for 48 hours as part of a criminal investigation into alleged violations of coronavirus regulations. during last Saturday’s protests.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the searches and detentions were a legitimate part of police efforts to investigate the alleged violations during the events.
“Law enforcement agencies are doing their job,” Peskov said during a conference call with reporters. “There have been numerous violations of Russian laws and law enforcement agencies are at work.”
Moscow police informed the public on Thursday that they would not participate in Sunday’s protests, warning that agents would act decisively to disperse unsanctioned rallies and bring the participants to justice.
Also on Thursday, Russian prosecutors issued warnings to Facebook, Google, Twitter, TikTok and Russian social networks, demanding that they block calls for more protests.
“The state does not want the social networks to become a platform to promote such illegal actions,” said Peskov.
Asked whether a refusal to remove such content could prompt Russian authorities to block the platforms, Peskov said it is up to the relevant government agencies to consider a response.
“All pros and cons will be weighed up and if necessary, action will be taken as provided for by law,” he said.
Earlier this week, Russian state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it would fine Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and two Russian social networks for failing to block minors from participating in Saturday’s protests.
Facebook, Google and TikTok have not responded to requests for comment about the action from the Russian authorities. Twitter declined to comment to The Associated Press on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the Russian Commission of Inquiry said it opened a criminal investigation against Navalny’s top strategist, Leonid Volkov, accusing him of encouraging minors to participate in unauthorized rallies. Volkov, who is currently living abroad, dismissed the charges.
‘The streets must speak now. There is nothing else left, ”Volkov tweeted after Navalny’s appeal was rejected, reiterating the call for the Russians to take effect on Sunday.
In a challenge to Putin two days after Navalny’s arrest, his organization released an extensive video report of a palatial coastal town allegedly built for the president. It has been viewed more than 98 million times, further fueling discontent.
Demonstrations calling for Navalny’s release took place in more than 100 cities across the country on Saturday, a strong expression of mounting anger at the Kremlin. Those protests reportedly detained nearly 4,000 people and some were fined and imprisoned.
During Thursday’s hearing, Navalny thanked his supporters, saying, “They are the final barrier to keep our country from sliding into relegation.”
Navalny fell into a coma on August 20 on a domestic flight from Siberia to Moscow. Two days later he was transferred from a hospital in Siberia to a hospital in Berlin. Labs in Germany, France and Sweden, and tests by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, showed that he was exposed to Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent.
Russian authorities have refused to open a full-fledged criminal investigation, citing a lack of evidence that Navalny had been poisoned.
Navalny’s arrest and crackdown on the police during the protests have drawn widespread criticism from the West and calls for his release.
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Kelvin Chan, Associated Press business writer in London, contributed to this report.