Russian police raid homes, offices of opposition activists

Russian law enforcement agents on Thursday searched the apartments and offices of several opposition activists who campaigned against constitutional amendments that allowed President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule until 2036.


PTI | Moscow | Updated: 09-07-2020 20:22 IST | Created: 09-07-2020 19:55 IST
Russian police raid homes, offices of opposition activists
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Russian law enforcement agents on Thursday searched the apartments and offices of several opposition activists who campaigned against constitutional amendments that allowed President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule until 2036. Investigators searched the apartment of municipal lawmaker Yulia Galyamina and also raided offices and homes of several activists who took part in the “No!” campaign over the July 1 constitutional vote, in which nearly 78 per cent of voters approved the changes that allow Putin to seek two more presidential terms.

The raids come ahead of a protest against the constitutional amendments that the activists planned for next Wednesday in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Authorities have denied permission, citing a ban on public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. Investigators also searched the offices of MBK Media news outlet and Open Russia group that are funded by self-exiled tycoon and Kremlin foe Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and detained several activists.

Officials said the searches were linked to a new investigation into Khodorkovsky's Yukos company, but activists at both MBK and Open Russia saw them as an official response to their campaign against the constitutional vote. Khodorkovsky moved to London after spending 10 years in prison in Russia on charges widely seen as political revenge for challenging Putin's rule.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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