Russian police forces have arrested 40 journalists across the country while they were covering demonstrations in support of opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
Sputnik Agency reported that the head of the Russian Union of Journalists, Solovyov, stated, "About 40 journalists were arrested and injured across the country yesterday. Almost all of them carried press credentials, and most had ‘press’ written on their clothing." The Attorney General's Office has called for a ban on online calls to attend such events, which is itself prohibited by law. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Attorney General's Office warned of the responsibility of both organizers and ordinary participants in unsanctioned actions.
The U.S. State Department strongly condemned what it described as the "harsh suppression of protests" in several Russian regions organized by supporters of opposition figure Alexei Navalny. It urged "the Russian authorities to release all detainees for exercising their universal rights and to immediately and unconditionally release Alexei Navalny," and called for full cooperation with the international community's investigation into the poisoning of Alexei Navalny.
Russia witnessed large protests across the country on Saturday in support of Navalny, demanding his release. More than 3,400 people were arrested during the demonstrations. Navalny had previously been detained on January 17 at Sheremetyevo Airport upon his return from Germany, where he was receiving treatment following a poisoning incident allegedly involving Russian authorities. A court in Khimki decided to hold him for 30 days.
