- By Joergen Haisem
- (General Dispatch) – The Russian government is preparing with riot gear for an apparent planned protest by groups supporting opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
- According to organizers they intend to announce the date when more than 500.000 people are registered in support of the protest, leader Navalny is serving a two-year sentence for violating his parole.
- He is currently holding a hunger strike at the holding center because of mistreatment and lousy medical service, Navalny was detained at the border when he returned from Germany where he was held for treatment for a poisoning attempt.
- The interior ministry has requested the budget for the purchase of 2,000 riot police kits containing vest, helmets and leg protector worth $3.15 million.
- The Deutsche Welle media is surprised if the 500,000,000-strong protest comes to fruition despite the fact that the Kremlin has reported that according to surveys 80% do not intend to attend such demonstrations.
- Sociologist Denis Volkov told Deutsche Welle that the protest may not materialize, most of the protesters are in the 25-35 age groups, but have previously been mistreated with excessive force by the authorities.
- Chatham House political scientist Nikolai Petrov said that he does not see a protest of this magnitude possible just to support Navalny, there are other issues that mobilize this type of demonstrations, for example the economic one.
Adittional Information:
Breitbart: Russia Buys Riot Gear as Navalny Supporters Plan Biggest Protest in Modern History
Reuters: Russia seeks to buy anti-riot gear ahead of planned Navalny protest
