Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on Tuesday that Russians should continue to protest the war in Ukraine.
More than 13,500 people across Russia have been detained in protests since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
And Navalny wrote on Twitter that “whether the Russians really support Putin’s disgusting war against Ukraine will largely determine Russia’s place in 21st century history.”
Putin’s “bloody venture” must not be supported
In a 14-part Twitter post, Navalny said: “It’s one thing if Putin were killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying vital infrastructure with the full approval of the Russian people. “Putin. From society.”
Navalny wrote that public opinion is against Putin, citing an investigation by aides.
“We can see rapid changes in the assessment of Russia’s role in the war. The percentage of respondents who see Russia as an attacker has doubled, while the share of those who consider Russia a ‘peacemaker’ has halved,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The nature of these changes is clear and unequivocal: people are quickly beginning to realize who is responsible for starting the conflict, as well as the real goals and possible outcomes of the war.”
Navalny: The Kremlin is worried
“Undoubtedly, the Kremlin can see this dynamic as well,” he continued. “Hence the nervousness, the desperate efforts to end the war campaign as soon as possible.”
Navalny is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for fraud allegations that his allies say are politically motivated, while Navalny says the Kremlin is holding him in prison to quell political resistance in Russia.
In new charges against the opposition leader last month, Russian authorities claim Navalny stole $ 4.7 million (€ 4.1 million) in donations to his political organization. He is also accused of insulting a judge.
If convicted in the new case, Navalny could face up to ten years in prison.
“Anti-war protests must not stop under any circumstances”
But that did not stop him from trying to mobilize the public on Tuesday, as Putin’s conflict reached its third week.
“Anti-war dynamics will continue to grow throughout society, so anti-war demonstrations must not stop under any circumstances,” he wrote on Twitter. “People are generally willing to change their attitude, but only if we engage them in dialogue and provide them with real information about the war.”
Last week, President Putin signed a law imposing prison sentences for publishing “false news” about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The move prompted several news outlets to re-evaluate their activities in Moscow. Other international news agencies, including DW, have been shut down in Russia along with Facebook and Twitter. The move has serious implications for the Russians’ ability to access independent sources of information.
Edited by: Rob Turner
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