Law enforcement officers in riot gear closed sections of Moscow, Russia, immediately following opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s 3 1/2-year prison sentence Tuesday, photographs and videos show.
Riot squads were deployed to Manezhnaya Square and the Red Square in anticipation of protest activity after a court sentenced Navalny to prison for allegedly violating the terms of his probation set after a 2014 conviction, video shows. Multiple people were detained in Manezhnaya Square and in downtown Moscow, photographs from Agence-France Presse and videos show.
Law enforcement officials were seen dragging a demonstrator to a bus, in Moscow, Russia, video shows.
St Petersburg right now pic.twitter.com/VT0Klpw09I
— Meanwhile in Russia (@officialrus1) February 2, 2021
First people being arrested on the Manezhny square pic.twitter.com/JxPLqmYxRc
— Meanwhile in Russia (@officialrus1) February 2, 2021
People continued to gather in downtown Moscow, video shows. Several law enforcement officials dressed in riot gear monitored a nearby metro station, a photograph from AFP shows.
Тверская сейчас
Видео: Дождь pic.twitter.com/LriAlohRB5
— Дождь (@tvrain) February 2, 2021
Огромное количество силовиков у Манежной площади
Видео: Денис Каминев / Дождь pic.twitter.com/GeA5hFGpLS
— Дождь (@tvrain) February 2, 2021
Several law enforcement vehicles including multiple vans were seen on standby in Moscow, video shows. People were detained and seen sitting inside of a barred police vehicle, according to photographs from Agence-France Presse. (RELATED: Moscow Bracing For More Protests Despite Mass Arrests)
A law enforcement official told a small crowd that the protests at Manezhnaya Square were not sanctioned just before the first arrests were made, video shows.
Полицейские начали объявлять о том, что акция протеста у Манежной площади не санкционирована
Видео: Маша Борзунова / Дождь pic.twitter.com/MaHBYimLSS
— Дождь (@tvrain) February 2, 2021
Navalny’s lawyers said they will submit an appeal of the court’s decision, NBC News reported.
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