27 Photos From Massive Anti-Corruption Protests Happening In Russia Right Now

In light of the recent actions taken against Russian opposition leader, politician, lawyer, and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, thousands upon thousands of people took to the streets to protest.

More specifically, great public backlash was sparked by a number of things, primarily the poisoning and arrest of Alexei Navalny, lack of an adequate response from Putin’s cabinet, and the release of Palace for Putin, a documentary that discusses the alleged corruption by Vladimir Putin over the building of the Residence at Cape Idokopas, Gelendzhik Urban Okrug, Krasnodar Krai, Russia.

Since January 23, protests have been held in over 100 towns and cities, including the now-famous protest in the Siberian city of Yakutsk, where the temperature scale went down to -50 Celsius or -58 Fahrenheit, so talk about dedication!

Bored Panda has collected some of the most striking photos of the protests, which you can check out and discuss below.

#1

Massive anti-corruption protests are happening in Russia right now

Image credits: OctopussSevenTwo

#2

This pro-Navalny protest in Yakutsk in the negative 50C absolutely blows my mind

Image credits: b_nishanov

#3

One of the largest protests against corruption in Russia.

Image credits: DurovCode

As mentioned previously, the protests have three main causes: first, it was the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, for which he was treated in Germany, and his arrest when he got back.

Second, there was the inadequate response issued by the Russian Government, namely Putin’s Cabinet. This includes everything that has happened to Navalny, and is quite likely fueled by the ongoing inadequate actions taken against protesters—beatings, among other human rights violations.

And third, much of the movement was also encouraged by the release of the documentary A Palace for Putin: The Story of the Biggest Bribe, a documentary narrated by Alexei Navalny himself and distributed by the Anti-Corruption Foundation of Russia.

Apart from this, some also speculate that people are just too tired of everything that has already happened prior to the recent events, and are protesting because it’s time for change. The current protests fight for the release of Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Putin’s resignation as President.

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Image credits: Sergey Ponomarev / The New York Times

#5

A picture of protesters out in Yakutsk where it's -51 degrees

Image credits: katedepury

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Image credits: mjluxmoore

Over 100 cities and towns across Russia were reported to have protests tied to Navalny and subsequent issues. Reports on the exact number of locations protesting is unclear as the issue is still ongoing, but as it stands now, it is said that there are between 112 and 122.

Moscow and Saint Petersburg were home to some of the largest protests, with records claiming an attendance of up to 70,000 people. Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, and Novosibirsk, among many other cities, had thousands of people take to the streets. It is estimated that over 120,000 people attended the protests nationwide.

Heaps upon heaps of visual footage has become available online, detailing every angle and detail of the protests, recording not only just how big the anti-corruption movement really is in the country, but also the state brutality against its citizens.

People were most baffled by footage of Yakutskians coming to protest—in negative 50 degrees Celsius (negative 58 degrees Fahrenheit)! That’s so cold, your spit could turn into ice by the time it reaches the ground. Yekaterinburg also recorded minus 30°C (minus 22°F) during protests, which isn’t as hardcore, but it still shows just how dedicated people are.

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Today’s protests in Russia, in one image

Image credits: maxseddon

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Image credits: Sergey Ponomarev / The New York Times

#9

Protests in support of Alexei Navalny are taking place across Russia

Image credits: kirkartstudio1

#10

People were bringing toilet brushes with them to protests after watching Navalny YouTube film where he alledges that toilet brush in Putin alledged house costs over $600, together with a toilet paper holder it talls to $1500 overall price for those two bathroom accessories

Image credits: officialrus1

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Courage. We've seen this time after time. Fearless women standing up to riot police and injustice. This time, during mass protests in Russia calling for the release of Alexei Navalny

Image credits: asiehnamdar

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-50 C, Yakutsk, Russia. Protests in support of Navalny

Image credits: ne_nado_tak_dymat

#13

Image credits: Sergey Ponomarev / The New York Times

#14

People came outside for peaceful protests. But our government gave an order to police to attack. It is unfair. It is terrible. It is not right. We need to fight against despotism

Image credits: selfish_BI_tch

#15

The current Navalny Protests are the largest in Russia in some time, spreading out throughout Russia’s 11 time zones, not just Moscow

Image credits: DaveNewhouse2

#16

Russia. Protests continue in Moscow and nationwide. Arrests are ongoing, over 1300 detained so far, according to monitoring groups

Image credits: yuliagorbunova_

#17

This pro-Navalny protest in Yakutsk in the negative 50C absolutely blows my mind... Russian police detained around 2,500 protesters across the country during mass rallies in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Saturday！

Image credits: aajangh_jahnpha

#18

Image credits: Анна Гурьянова

#19

People came outside for peaceful protests. But our government gave an order to police to attack. It is unfair. It is terrible. It is not right. We need to fight against despotism