Russia’s police state showed its real face in latest protest crackdown
Facing the largest street protests in a decade, Russian authorities responded with an unprecedented wave of repression. The harsh crackdown seems to have had the desired effect: Navalny’s allies were forced to put their protests on hold.
Russian police detained Dmitry Gliuz, aged 30, on Sennaya Square, in the centre of St Petersburg, shortly after he came out from the metro. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong, just standing and looking at my phone, when suddenly policemen grabbed me and punched me in the stomach”. Gliuz was among the thousands of people detained on January 31st during the nationwide protests in support of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.
Russian police detained Dmitry Gliuz, aged 30, on Sennaya Square, in the centre of St Petersburg, shortly after he came out from the metro. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong, just standing and looking at my phone, when suddenly policemen grabbed me and punched me in the stomach”. Gliuz was among the thousands of people detained on January 31st during the nationwide protests in support of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.
April 11, 2021 -
Giovanni Pigni
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AnalysisIssue 3 2021Magazine
Police in St Petersburg during a pro-Navalny rally. Despite the peaceful nature of the rallies, numerous episodes of unjustified police violence, brutality and even torture were registered. Photo: Sofia Ivanova (pseud.)
Alexei Navalny, Russia protests, Russian politics, St. Petersburg
