MOSCOW – Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s prison last month backed Russia’s largest popular protests in nearly a decade, as supporters joined the country as ordinary Russians angered by declining living standards and reduced freedoms political.
But Mr Navalny’s allies canceled subsequent protests after more than 6,000 were detained during recent demonstrations, as well as police violence against protesters – factors that could make it more difficult to continue mobilizing supporters.
Instead, his movement will focus on the September parliamentary elections, when his supporters hope to remove the ruling party, United Russia, loyal to President Vladimir Putin.
The rallies sparked repression by authorities, as police beat protesters and detained thousands, including many top allies of the opposition leader. This use of force risked putting ordinary Russians who had gravitated the movement on a dangerous path to confront the Kremlin, said Leonid Volkov, one of Mr Navalny’s first lieutenants.
“Tens of millions of people watched in horror [Mr. Putin] he has shown that he is ready to beat unarmed peaceful protesters with his storm soldiers, “Volkov said in a video to supporters on Thursday.