Russia: Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has urged Russians to protest against President Vladimir Putin. During election day, Navalnaya suggested that people should form a long queue at polling stations as part of the protest.
Following the death of Alexei Navalny in prison, his supporters are responding through social media and other communication platforms to raise their voices for him. Navalnaya posted a video on social media blaming Putin for her husband’s death.
In the recent post, Navalnaya said that, “We need to use the election day to show that we exist and there are many of us.” Late Alexei’s wife’s call for polling day protests is called ‘Midday against Putin.’ Most international observers do not believe that Russia’s presidential election will be free or fair. Putin is widely expected to win a fifth term.
Yulia Navalnaya suggests that going to the polling stations at the same time can be a straightforward and secure action that the authorities cannot prevent. This will enable like-minded individuals to come together and demonstrate that they are numerous and powerful.
The widow of the opposing leader suggested that voters can either choose any candidate other than President Putin, destroy their ballot, or write “Navalny” in capital letters.
The Russian critic was suggested to organise midday gatherings at polling stations two weeks before his death. Despite being in jail, his lawyers posted messages on social media on his behalf. In one such message, Navalny proposed that the election day protest could become a massive “all-Russian protest action, available to everyone, everywhere. Millions will be able to take part in it. And tens of millions will witness it.”
Navalny was prevented from running in the 2018 presidential vote due to a politically motivated embezzlement conviction. He passed away while serving a lengthy prison term on politically motivated charges. The Kremlin reported that Alexei Navalny died due to natural causes, but his followers and several foreign leaders accused Putin.
Navalnaya gained prominence after her husband Navalny’s death. During a meeting in San Francisco, President Joe Biden met with Navalny’s widow and daughter and announced that sanctions would be imposed on Putin. In her YouTube video, she expressed her gratitude for the massive turnout at her husband’s funeral in Moscow last week. She was heartened by the sight of the large crowds who gathered to pay their respects.
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