2021 Russian protests — protests in opposition to Vladimir Putin and in support of Alexei Navalny
The 2021 Navalny protests were among Russia's largest anti-government demonstrations since 2011–12, prompting crackdowns and the banning of Navalny's organizations as extremist.
Key Facts
- Protest start date
- 23 January 2021
- Cities with protests (day one)
- 122 towns and cities across Russia
- Navalny prison sentence
- Three and a half years, confirmed 2 February 2021
- Street protests suspended
- 4 February 2021
- Navalny orgs designated extremist
- 9 June 2021 by Moscow City Court
- Additional sentence (2022)
- Nine years for embezzlement and contempt of court
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Alexei Navalny was detained immediately upon returning to Russia in January 2021 after receiving medical treatment in Germany for poisoning. Days before protests erupted, his Anti-Corruption Foundation released 'Putin's Palace,' a widely viewed film alleging a lavish palace was being constructed for President Vladimir Putin, heightening public grievance.
Beginning 23 January 2021, Russians took to the streets in 122 cities in unsanctioned protests supporting Navalny. Authorities responded with mass detentions. Navalny's team suspended street protests on 4 February, shifting to courtyard demonstrations to reduce police confrontation, before a final round of street protests on 21 April responding to Navalny's declining health in prison.
Navalny's suspended sentence was converted to nearly three and a half years' imprisonment on 2 February 2021. The Moscow prosecutor's office subsequently moved to designate his FBK and headquarters as extremist organizations, a ruling enacted on 9 June 2021. In March 2022, Navalny received an additional nine-year sentence after a new conviction for embezzlement and contempt of court.