MOSCOW: The outcry grew in Russia over the crackdown on peaceful protesters Thursday as EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was set to visit the country under pressure to confront Moscow over the imprisonment of opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The jailing of Navalny, 44, and the crackdown sparked outrage among many Russians, and top broadsheets added their voices to the chorus of condemnation. Borrell insists he will deliver “clear messages” to Moscow despite it blanking western calls to free Navalny who has accused Putin of trying to kill him. ‘No repression’On Thursday, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Brussels and Moscow should be able to freely discuss “all existing differences”. Navalny himself called for sanctions to hit the oligarchs and money men he accuses of protecting Putin’s wealth.

Source: Libya Today February 04, 2021 11:48 UTC