HUNDREDS NABBED AS RUSSIANS BACKING NAVALNY STAGE PROTESTS

Hundreds of people were arrested on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, as supporters of ailing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny defied authorities and staged protests across Russia to demand he receive life-saving medical care, Hannah Wagner reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Videos from the Siberian city of Irkutsk showed a large crowd chanting "Freedom for Alexei Navalny" and calling for the resignation of President Vladimir Putin. By early evening, more than 400 people had been arrested in more than 50 cities, according to the OVD-Info protest monitoring group.

The group had earlier reported that more than 100 people were detained at protests in Siberia, which sits several time zones ahead of cities like Moscow and St Petersburg. The authorities warned people against taking part in unauthorized protests.

But in Moscow, thousands of people demonstrated in support of Navalny in the city center. Many called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to resign, echoing calls in other cities across the country.

They accused Putin of oppressing dissenters, and chanted "Freedom! Freedom!" Numerous metal barriers were erected not far from Moscow's Red Square ahead of the rallies.

Nearby, not only were Navalny supporters planning to demonstrate in the evening but Putin had also been scheduled to deliver his annual address to the nation in the afternoon. The city of Moscow in warning against participation in the demonstrations had said earlier it would take "all necessary measures" to ensure public order.

Navalny's team has said the 44-year-old's health is quickly deteriorating at the prison camp where he is being held. Evening protests were planned in more than 200 Russian cities and towns to draw attention to his plight and clamor for prison authorities to allow him access to independent doctors.

The leading opposition figure, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt last year, has been complaining of severe back pain and paralysis in his arms and legs. To protest a lack of medical care, he went on hunger strike about three weeks ago.

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