Alexey Navalny, during his trial in Moscow on February 20, 2021. – Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP / SIPA
The allies of the main detractor of the Kremlin, Alexeï Navalny, imprisoned and on hunger strike, called this Sunday on the Russians to demonstrate on April 21 to “save the life” of the opponent, seriously ill according to his supporters.
“There is no more time – it is time to act. It’s not just about Navalny’s freedom anymore, it’s about his life. Right now, he is being killed in a penal colony, and we can’t wait any longer, ”the opponent’s right-hand man Leonid Volkov wrote on Facebook.
The final battle
This event, set for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, is being organized on the same day as President Vladimir Putin’s annual speech to both chambers of Parliament, during which he will discuss the “goals” for developing Russia and the legislative elections next fall. .
“Call all your friends and go out to the central squares. See you in the biggest city you can find yourself in on Wednesday evening, ”continued Leonid Volkov, calling on the Russians to participate in the“ final battle ”between“ good ”and“ absolute evil ”.
Intensive care request
“Putin explicitly bans all opposition activity in Russia. This means that this gathering could become the last in the country for years to come. But it is in our power to change that, ”he added, calling on his compatriots to“ no longer be afraid ”.
Doctors close to Alexeï Navalny said Saturday they feared he would go into cardiac arrest “from one minute to the next” because of a “critical” level of potassium concentration in the blood. They called in a letter to the administration of the Pokrov camp, where he is being held, to immediately place him in intensive care.
International reactions
Alexeï Navalny stopped eating on March 31 to protest against his poor conditions of detention, accusing the prison administration of denying him access to a doctor and medication despite suffering from a double herniated disc according to his lawyers.
Returned in January after five months of convalescence in Germany following a poisoning of which he accuses the Kremlin, the opponent was immediately arrested and sentenced to two and a half years in prison in an old case of fraud that he denounces as a policy.
The White House warned on Sunday that there would be “consequences” for Russia if opponent Alexei Navalny, whose health was deteriorating, died. The European Union said Sunday it was “deeply worried” for the health of Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny, sick and on hunger strike in the camp where he is being held, calling for his “immediate and unconditional” release.