The United States called on Russian authorities to release protesters and journalists detained, condemning what it called "harsh tactics" used against them. Leonid Volkov, a Navalny ally, called on them to do the same next weekend to try to free Navalny from what he called "the clutches of his killers". Alexei Navalny was arrested after returning to Russia last week. Navalny, a lawyer, is in a Moscow prison pending the outcome of four legal matters he describes as trumped up. Thousands of protesters ignored extreme cold and police warnings to call for the release of Alexi Navalny.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 23, 2021 20:26 UTC