Alexei Navalny’s widow joins ‘Noon Against Putin’ protest in Berlin
- Yulia Navalnaya took half in a protest in opposition to Putin in Berlin
- Russian residents in London joined a half-a-mile lengthy queue to vote
- Many the world over are becoming a member of them, and plenty of are spoiling their ballots
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, took half in a midday protest in opposition to President Vladimir Putin on Sunday in Berlin.
Navalnaya’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh posted photos on X of the dissident standing in line within the German capital the place Russians queued as much as vote. Activists stated that some folks chanted ‘Yulia, Yulia’, and clapped.
Votes from Russian residents dwelling in different international locations have been being solid the world over.
In the UK, scores of individuals queued up outdoors the Russian Embassy in London to vote within the election. The line was at the least half a mile lengthy when MailOnline visited.
Alexander, a 24-year-old former artilleryman within the Russian Army instructed MailOnline right this moment that he wasn’t assured anybody however Vladimir Putin would win the election.
Navalnaya’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh posted photos on X of the dissident standing in line within the German capital the place Russians queued as much as vote
One protestor in Paris held an indication that accused the despot of being an murderer
Alexander, a 24-year-old former artilleryman within the Russian Army, (pictured) instructed MailOnline right this moment that he wasn’t assured anybody however Vladimir Putin would win the election
One man was seen carrying a speaker and blasting music up and down the big queue for the polling station on the embassy
He stated: ‘[I think] Putin will win. I’m not very completely happy about that. He’s killed the nation, and its subsequent technology. Quite a lot of fathers are [in Ukraine] and too many youngsters will develop up with out their fathers. Too many youngsters’s psychological well being will likely be harm.’
Despite this, Alexander stated he did not need to merely surrender, given how a lot opposition chief Alexei Navalny gave in service of his nation.
‘Navalny taught us by no means to surrender. He was a courageous one that wasn’t scared. He believed Russia will likely be higher than it’s now. I consider on this. It’s a stupendous nation.’
He added that hoped the following chief of Russia after Putin could be somebody who seemed out for the roughly 143 million individuals who dwell within the nation.
‘Every time a dictator or a king leaves, everybody needs their energy for themselves. I hope we’ve got a president who makes the lives within the nation higher.’
Ekaterina, a 42-year-old workplace employee, stated she and her good friend had been ready on the embassy for practically three-and-a-half hours by the point MailOnline spoke to her.
Ekaterina, a 42-year-old workplace employee, (pictured) stated she and her good friend had been ready on the embassy for practically three-and-a-half hours
The queue outdoors the embassy was at the least half a mile lengthy
Many have been seen dressed up in satirical costumes
‘We haven’t had lunch, and my again hurts, however in any other case it’s cool as a result of you may see so many people who find themselves on the identical web page as you, and that you just’re not the one one. It helps you from inside.
‘You feel confident and that you’re doing the suitable factor. I’m happy with myself and I hope my children, after they develop up, they’ll be happy with me as properly.’
Despite her cheery angle, she additionally stated she wasn’t hopeful about how the election would play out. But this is able to not cease her from going to the embassy to solid her poll.
‘We simply can’t maintain silent. We know we received’t change something, however it’s simply not proper to maintain silent.
‘I do know it is not going to change something, everyone knows that. But to not do something, to not present that you just don’t agree with one thing dangerous, it’s such as you’re saying “I’m not sturdy sufficient, I can’t assist right here”.’
Over in Paris, a large queue of people was seen outside the Russian embassy, while protestors were seen in nearby green spaces holding signs up with messages critical of Putin written on them.
One protestor held a sign that accused the despot of being an assassin, while another compared Putin to Stalin, and called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ‘genocide’ and ‘terrorism.’
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, talks to a woman during a rally near the Russian embassy in Berlin
People attend a rally in Berlin, near the Russian embassy where voters lined up to cast their ballots in the Russia’s presidential election
In Russia itself, the main vehicle of protest across the nation has been the ‘Noon against Putin’ movement.
Thousands across the nation who oppose the veteran Kremlin leader went to their local polling station at midday to either spoil their ballot paper in protest or to vote for one of the three candidates standing against Putin.
Others had vowed to scrawl the name of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison, on their ballot paper.
Navalny’s allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.
Navalny had endorsed the ‘Noon against Putin’ plan in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died. The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper called the planned action ‘Navalny’s political testament’.
Navalny’s allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday
The Kremlin casts Navalny’s political allies – most of whom are based outside Russia – as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West
Despite the protesters – who represent a small fraction of Russia’s 114 million voters – Putin to tighten his grip on power in the election that is certain to deliver him a big victory.
The Kremlin casts Navalny’s political allies – most of whom are based outside Russia – as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West.
It says Putin enjoys overwhelming support among ordinary Russians, pointing to opinion polls which put his approval rating above 80%.
With Russia’s vast landmass stretching across 11 time zones, protest voters were scattered rather than concentrated into a single mass, making it hard to estimate how many people turned up for the protest event.
The dimension of the queues at every polling station proven on Navalny’s channel ranged from a number of dozen folks to what seemed like a number of hundred folks.
