Jan 31

Russia arrests nearly 5,000 at wide protests backing Navalny

Chanting slogans against President Vladimir Putin, tens of thousands took to the streets Sunday across Russia to demand the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, keeping up nationwide protests that have rattled the Kremlin. More than 4,500 people were…

The show of support and Navalny’s newfound recognition is Russia’s biggest political development of the year, and the anger beneath it could bubble and reverberate for months, even years to come, with parliamentary elections and a presidential race looming.

During the protests, embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross said on Twitter that “the U.S. supports the right of all people to peaceful protest, freedom of expression. Steps being taken by Russian authorities are suppressing those rights.” The embassy also tweeted a…