In a powerful display of defiance, approximately 1,500 exiled supporters of Russia's opposition took to the streets of Berlin on Sunday, led by the indomitable Yulia Navalnaya. This passionate protest was a fierce condemnation of Moscow's brutal invasion of Ukraine, with demonstrators chanting emphatically, "No to war!" and "No to Putin!" as they marched through the heart of the German capital.
The rally served a dual purpose: to denounce the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and to stand in solidarity with the political prisoners languishing in Russian jails. With protests in Russia stifled by oppressive government measures, opposition leaders are rallying the many Russians who have fled since the invasion began in 2022. "Putin is a murderer," declared Navalnaya, who has emerged as a leading figure in the opposition following the tragic death of her husband, Alexei Navalny. She was joined by fellow activists Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza, both recently released from prison after enduring their own harrowing struggles against the regime.
Demands Echo in the Streets
The protesters were clear in their demands: an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, a trial for Vladimir Putin as a war criminal, and the release of all political prisoners in Russia. Yashin emphasized the significance of the protest, stating, "We are using the freedom we have here in Berlin to show the world: A peaceful, free, and civilized Russia exists." Organizers aimed to convey that not all Russians stand behind the Kremlin's aggressive actions, estimating that around 2,000 people participated in this significant demonstration.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin dismissed the protest as irrelevant, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeling the organizers as "monstrously detached from their country." In a chilling backdrop to the protest, Russian forces launched a massive airstrike targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure early Sunday morning, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reporting that around 120 missiles and 90 drones were unleashed in the attack.
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