Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny participates in a rally on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the assassination of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and to protest against the proposed amendments to the country’s constitution, in Moscow, Russia, on 29 February 2020.
Xamil Zhumatov | Reuters
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has condemned “persistent use of harsh tactics” by Russian authorities to peaceful protesters who took to the streets of Russia on Sunday to demand the release of the leader of the opposition Alexei Navalny.
For the second weekend in a row, tens of thousands of people gathered across the country in an effort to raise awareness Navalny, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was arrested earlier this month by authorities.
According to a surveillance group, more than 4,500 people were detained by Russian authorities for participating in the protests.
“We renew our call for Russia to release detainees to exercise their human rights, including Aleksey Navalny,” Blinken wrote in a tweet.
Last year, Navalny was medically evacuated to Germany from a Russian hospital after falling ill after being told something had been added to the tea. Russian doctors treating Navalny denied the Kremlin critic had been poisoned and blamed his comatose state for low blood sugar levels.
In September, the German government said the 44-year-old Russian dissident was poisoned by a chemical nerve agent, and described the toxicology report as “unequivocal evidence.” The nervous agent belonged to the Novichok family, developed by the Soviet Union.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied playing a role in Navalny poisoning.
Earlier this month, Navalny flew to Russia from Berlin, Germany, where he had spent nearly half a year recovering from being poisoned last summer. He was arrested for passport control.
Russian authorities had issued an order for Navalny’s arrest, alleging that he had violated the terms of a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence he received in 2014 for embezzlement charges.
“Mr Navalny should be released immediately and the perpetrators of the scandalous attack on his life should be held accountable,” Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan wrote on Twitter after the arrest .
Last week, Blinken expressed “deep concern” over Navalny’s treatment and the broader human rights situation in Russia.
“It still catches my eye, even worried and maybe even scared, that the Russian government looks like a man, Mr. Navalny,” Blinken told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.
The newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses reporters during his first press session at the Washington State Department on January 27, 2021.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
“In general, as the President has said, we are reviewing all these actions that concern us deeply if it is the treatment of Mr. Navalny and, in particular, the apparent use of a chemical weapon in an attempt to assassinate him “, added the nation ‘s top diplomat.
Blinken also said Wednesday that the Biden administration was reviewing the hacking of SolarWinds, reports of rewards placed by Russia on U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and possible electoral interference.
Biden has previously promised to “work with our allies and partners to hold the Putin regime accountable for its crimes.” He has also previously accused the Trump administration of not taking a tough enough stance against Moscow.