Russian protests

During a discussion held in the European Parliament, participants highlighted the alarming rise of political prisoners in Russia, surpassing even the numbers seen during the Soviet era. Bill Browder, leader of the "Magnitsky" act campaign, attributed the assassination of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov to his involvement in the campaign.

Kremlin critics called for massive protests at Russian polling stations on Sunday for the final day of a presidential election that is guaranteed to cement Vladimir Putin's rule.

The three-day vote has already been marred by a surge in fatal Ukrainian bombardments and a series of incursions into Russian territory by pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups.

Reports reveal that Olena Zelensky, wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has declined an invitation from US First Lady Jill Biden to attend Congress during President Joe Biden's address. The decision comes amidst concerns over the potential presence of Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, at the event, stirring controversy in Ukraine.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny, has called on Russians to participate in a nationwide protest on election day, March 17, at noon.

In a YouTube video, Navalnaya drew inspiration from the overwhelming support displayed at her husband's recent funeral, following his death in a remote penal colony on February 16.

Through YouTube, she called on all those who oppose the war in Ukraine, as well as the rule of Putin, to gather at noon in front of the polling stations on the last day of elections in Russia.
"I want to do what Alexei would have thought was right and I urge everyone to come to his memory," Yulia Navalnya said in a video released today.

However, problems started almost immediately. The spokeswoman for the most famous Russian opposition leader, who was found dead in a notorious prison on February 16, Kira Yarmysh, confirmed that they could not even find a hearse to take the body to the church. "Unknown people call morgues and threaten them," she said.

The maximum security prison in Siberia where Alexei Navalny was exterminated is the modern version of the forced labor camps where 18-20 million people - including 2,000 Greeks - were deported and 1.6 million

The Russian oligarch had intervened to get Navalny released as part of a prisoner swap, associates of the deceased claim - Putin overturned the deal in the too

In a diplomatic showdown following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Bulgaria summoned the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Eleonora Mitrofanova, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The fact that Alexei Navalny's death was easily foretold does not make it less heroic nor less sad. It does not reduce the value of his sacrifice, nor the importance of the warning that it sends to the Russians and the rest of the world - Vladimir Putin will act in this way until he is forced to stop.