Russia raids Kremlin critic Navalny's supporters.
Russian law enforcement carried out mass raids on Thursday (September 12) targeting the homes and offices of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's supporters.
Authorities say its part of a money laundering investigation into Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation.
But the raids across 39 towns and cities also take place after an election in upset Moscow.
Navalny had urged his supporters to vote tactically in last weekend's elections, which saw the ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, lose a third of its seats in the Moscow city assembly.
Navalny released this message on Thursday:
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KREMLIN CRITIC ALEXEI NAVALNY, SAYING:
"This time, Putin got really upset because of the tactical voting, as his favourite offspring, his sweet child I would say, the United Russia party has been busted in Moscow and seriously beaten in the regions. Yes he is upset and he is stomping his little feet."
WHITE FLASH
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KREMLIN CRITIC ALEXEI NAVALNY, SAYING:
"We won't give up. We will regain power and continue fighting against crooks and thieves."
Navalny's Anti-corruption Foundation has published embarrassing reports into what it says is the wrongdoing by government officials.
State investigators last month opened a criminal investigation into the alleged laundering of 1 billion roubles - that's $15 million - by the foundation itself.
It also froze a slew of bank accounts linked to the foundation...
Meanwhile, a seperate non-governmental organization that monitors Russian elections, said on Thursday that the homes of its activists were also being raided by the authorities.
No comments:
Post a Comment