“Noon against Putin”: Yulia Navalnaya called for a particular protest throughout Russia during the elections

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Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has called for a protest on election day in Russia. Navalnaya urged Russians to form long lines in front of polling stations as a way to protest against President Vladimir Putin.

Following Navalny’s death last month in an Arctic penal colony, Navalnaya has pledged to continue her husband’s work and opposition to the Kremlin. In a video on YouTube, Navalnaya supported an initiative to try to overload the electoral colleges in the upcoming national elections, where Putin is expected to secure another six-year term as president.

Navalnaya called the upcoming election a “farce” and expressed doubt that Putin would allow for a fair outcome. She encouraged people to visit polling stations on March 17 at 12:00 and vote for any candidate other than Putin, cancel their vote, or write “Navalny” in big letters.

The protest initiative, called “Noon against Putin,” was endorsed by Navalny before his death. Navalnaya noted the support and hope displayed by thousands of people who visited Navalny’s grave with flowers and tributes, showing significant opposition to the Kremlin within Russia.

The Kremlin has threatened Navalny’s mourners with arrest under strict anti-protest laws, leading to multiple detentions of individuals paying their respects to the late opposition leader. Despite this, Navalnaya remains determined to carry on her husband’s work and has made prominent political appearances in the West.

The Kremlin has denied Navalnaya’s accusations that Putin was involved in Navalny’s death and has refused to comment on the public response to the opposition leader’s passing and funeral. Navalny’s death certificate cited natural causes as the cause of death.

The call for a protest on election day is expected to draw attention and potentially challenge the current political landscape in Russia.