Putin calls pro-Navalny marches illegal, new protest set for Sunday

[webfact]

Putin calls pro-Navalny marches illegal, new protest set for Sunday

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Tom Balmforth

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with university students via a video conference call at a state residence in Zavidovo, Russia January 25, 2021. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned weekend protests demanding the release of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as dangerous and illegal, as the opposition politician's allies said they planned a similar protest for Sunday.

 

Police detained more than 3,700 people and used force to break up rallies across Russia on Saturday as tens of thousands of protesters ignored extreme cold and police warnings to demand Navalny be freed from jail where he is serving a 30-day stint for alleged parole violations that he denies.

 

In a rare public rebuttal of a Navalny accusation, Putin rejected an allegation the critic made last week in a video - which has since garnered more than 86 million views on YouTube - that the Russian leader owned an opulent Black Sea palace paid for by his friends, sometimes using public money.

 

Putin, who avoids mentioning Navalny by name, also told students on Monday that people should not use illegal protest action to further their own political interests.

 

"Everyone has the right to express their point of view within the framework provided by the law. Anything outside the law is not just counter-productive, but dangerous," said Putin.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned weekend protests demanding the release of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as dangerous and illegal, as the opposition politician's allies said they planned a similar protest for Sunday.

 

He cited upheaval caused by the 1917 Russian Revolution and the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as examples of how illegal action could cause people misery and should therefore be avoided.

 

As Putin spoke, Leonid Volkov, a Navalny ally now outside Russia, announced plans for a protest this Sunday that would again demand Navalny's freedom.

 

Saying he had not seen the video making the allegation about the Black Sea palace, although he had "scrolled through video compilations," Putin said the property was not his.

 

"Nothing of what was indicated there as my property belongs either to me or to my relatives and never has belonged (to us). Never," Putin said.

 

NO QUICK EU, U.S. ACTION

While demanding Navalny's release, neither the European Union nor the United States suggested it would take quick action to raise pressure on Russia.

 

The European Union said it would refrain from fresh sanctions on Russian individuals if the Kremlin releases Navalny after 30 days, adding it would send its top diplomat to Moscow next week.

 

U.S. President Joe Biden, who is seeking a five-year extension of the New START arms control treaty with Russia before it expires on Feb. 5, said he would not hesitate to criticize Moscow, but announced no new actions.

 

"We can both operate in the mutual self-interest of our countries as a New START agreement, and make it clear to Russia that we are very concerned about their behavior, whether it's Navalny, whether it's the SolarWinds, or whether it's reports about bounties on the heads of Americans in Afghanistan," he said.

 

Biden said he had requested an update on the massive cyber hack blamed on Russia that used U.S. tech company SolarWinds Corp as a springboard to penetrate federal government networks, and on media reports that Russia had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces, including Americans, in Afghanistan.

 

"I will not hesitate to raise those issues with Russia," he told reporters.

 

Moscow has denied involvement in the hack of SolarWinds and brushed off allegations of offering bounties for U.S. troops.

 

Tensions between Moscow and Washington have flared over the Navalny protests.

 

Russia's foreign ministry said it had issued a diplomatic protest to U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan over what it viewed as interference in its domestic affairs.

 

It said it took exception to social media posts by the U.S. Embassy that it alleged supported the illegal protests and to what it called an unacceptable State Department stance.

 

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Darya Korsunskaya, Anton Zverev and Tom Balmforth and Alexander Marrow; Additional reporting by Robin Emmott in Brussels and Alexandra Alper, Steve Holland and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-26

 

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[PatOngo]

Anything opposing Czar (Ras) Putin is illegal, punishable by elimination! 

[Henk Langeweg]

Why not a prisoner exchange, Navalny for Julian Assange?

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, Henk Langeweg said:

Why not a prisoner exchange, Navalny for Julian Assange?

Any sign that Navalny would be willing to have the trade made? Didn't he return knowing that there was a warrant out for his arrest?

[2530Ubon]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Putin, who avoids mentioning Navalny by name, also told students on Monday that people should not use illegal protest action to further their own political interests.

Someone needs to explain to him that that is exactly what protests are for. Most people aren't like his buddy Trump - they won't get down on their knees and take whatever you put into their mouth.

[Henk Langeweg]

2 hours ago, placeholder said:

Any sign that Navalny would be willing to have the trade made? Didn't he return knowing that there was a warrant out for his arrest?

I don't know, what me concerns he can play the martyr for some decades to come in cozy Siberia ... Frozen and Forgotten.

[placeholder]

59 minutes ago, Henk Langeweg said:

I don't know, what me concerns he can play the martyr for some decades to come in cozy Siberia ... Frozen and Forgotten.

"Play"? Like this is some kind of act? Is Julian Assange playing the martyr, too?

[Nout]

5 hours ago, placeholder said:

Any sign that Navalny would be willing to have the trade made? Didn't he return knowing that there was a warrant out for his arrest?

He was ordered to return. Other democracy activists and dissidents living abroad have been murdered...he did not have much choice...

[Nout]

2 hours ago, Henk Langeweg said:

I don't know, what me concerns he can play the martyr for some decades to come in cozy Siberia ... Frozen and Forgotten.

He is not 'playing' anything. 

[spidermike007]

Putin can say whatever he wants. He is in that position. However, only some Russians will buy his baloney. Most of the world sees right thought him, knows of his ill gotten 30-200 billion dollar fortune, and knows he would say or do anything to maintain power. He is a power hungry despot. With his KGB background, how can one ever expect him to do anything honestly, or honorably? He just does not have it within himself. 

Edited January 26, 2021 by spidermike007

[Magenta408]

Putin has to give him a guided tour of the gulags and then leave him to fend for himself for 3 or 4 years. He will have softened. 

[jchfriis]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

He cited upheaval caused by the 1917 Russian Revolution and the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as examples of how illegal action could cause people misery and should therefore be avoided.

Tells you all about what he wants Russia to be: A totalitarian state.

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed.

 

[Tug]

Cry me a river Putin ya despot you are what you are hopefully your reign will end soon 

[Operator2002]

Hoping for nothing good until Putn & Co in power as many/most people in Russia are still indifferent or support him ????