Police raid apartment of Russian anti-corruption activist Navalny in Moscow, his YouTube channel’s studio also targeted – reports
Police searches are being carried out at the Moscow home of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, and at a studio where he films videos for his YouTube channel, associates of the imprisoned activist reported on Wednesday.
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Police searches are being carried out at the Moscow home of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, and at a studio where he films videos for his YouTube channel, associates of the imprisoned activist reported on Wednesday.
Writing on Twitter, Ivan Zhdanov, director of Navalny's FBK (Anti-Corruption fund) said “In Maryino [a district of south-east Moscow], they came to the apartment of Alexei Navalny with a search warrant. There are many 'heavies,' in masks."
"They started breaking down the door," he continued. "In the apartment is Oleg Navalny [Alexey's brother]." The activist himself is being held at the Matrosskaya Tishina pre-trial detention center, in the capital, because of his violation of the terms of a probation period in a fraud case involving French cosmetics firm Yves Rocher.
According to the anonymous telegram channel Baza, investigators plan to conduct widespread searches involving numerous FBK representatives. Zhdanov believes his colleagues may be charged with violations of measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Moscow authorities, 19 people infected with the coronavirus came to a rally, organised by Navalny's team, last weekend.
Moscow media outlets report that law enforcement officers eventually breached the door of the apartment where Navalny's wife, Yulia, was at home. Searches also began in the 'Navalny Live' Studio, according to FBK lawyer Lyubov Sobol. Offices belonging to the FBK were also targeted, along with residence Navalny's main Moscow coordinator, Oleg Stepanov.
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