Yulia Navalnaya, Widow of Alexei Navalny, Participates in 'Noon Against Putin' Protest

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in prison, participated in the protest known as 'Noon Against Putin' in Berlin on Sunday, March 17. Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokesperson, shared images of Navalnaya at the protest in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin, where several Russians were lined up to vote. Activists at the protest chanted 'Yulia, Yulia' and applauded. Simultaneously, thousands of people gathered at polling stations across Russia to participate in what Kremlin opponents described as a peaceful but symbolic political demonstration against Vladimir Putin's reelection. In this symbolic act, Russians opposed to Putin went to their local polling stations to spoil their ballots in protest or vote for one of the three candidates opposing Putin. Some were also committed to writing Alexei Navalny's name, the late opposition leader who passed away last month in a prison in the Arctic, on their ballots. Navalnaya had previously urged people to vote against Putin and his policies. In a video message, she said, 'We must use this day to show that we exist and that we are many. We are real, living people, and we oppose Putin.' Yulia Navalnaya added, 'The choice is yours. You can vote for any candidate except Putin. You can write Navalny's name in capital letters on your ballots.' Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube showing lines of people at various polling stations across Russia in mid-day, claiming they were there for peaceful protest. Before his death, Navalny had confirmed the 'Noon Against Putin' protest in a social media message released by his lawyers. The independent newspaper 'Novaya Gazeta' referred to this planned protest as Navalny's 'political will.' Leonid Volkov, one of Navalny's exiled aides who was attacked with a hammer last week in Vilnius, Lithuania, estimated that hundreds of thousands had come to polling stations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities. The three-day presidential election in Russia, taking place across 11 time zones, began on Friday, March 25, and will continue until Sunday, March 27.