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Added on the 28/01/2018 22:17:19 - Copyright : France 24 EN
In the first half of 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to be coasting toward a presidency-for-life. But according to CNN, what followed instead was Putin's most challenging year to date. Putin's political durability is often attributed to a simple bargain between him and his citizens. At its essence, it is to accept limited political competition in exchange for stability and steady increases in the standard of living. But in the face of the government's ability to control the coronavirus pandemic, that deal has begun to unravel. In August, protests in Belarus frayed the deal's edges. And the August poisoning of opposition leader Alexey Navalny came close to ripping it up completely.
Hundreds of people gather to pay their respects and lay flowers at the grave of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on the final day of a presidential election that is guaranteed to cement Vladimir Putin's hardline rule. Before his death in an Arctic prison last month, Navalny urged Russians to protest on March 17. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has reiterated his call and said protesters should show up in large numbers at the same time to overwhelm polling stations. IMAGES
People respond to a call from opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya to turn up at polling stations at midday Moscow time (0900 GMT) in a form of protest that attempts to overwhelm them. Before his death in an Arctic prison last month, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who galvanised mass anti-Putin rallies, had urged Russians to protest on March 17. The polling station is where opposition leader Alexei Navalny was registered. IMAGES
People queue at the entrance of the Borisovo cemetery in south Moscow, where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was buried the previous day. Mourners take turns to lay flowers to Navalny's grave under increased police surveillance. IMAGES
Thousands of mourners stand outside a church in Moscow as the funeral of late opposition leader Alexei Nalavny's is being held. IMAGES
Hundreds of people queue under the watchful eye of the police to pay their respects to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny outside the Moscow church where his funeral is being held. The ceremony comes two weeks after Navalny died in an Arctic prison. His supporters accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering his top critic, whilst the Kremlin denies involvement in his death. IMAGES
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