NOTE: Before answering the following questions, read the info under “Background” and watch the videos under “Resources” below.

1. List the who, what, where and when of the news item.

2. What is Alexei Navalny know for?

3. Navalny’s team has called for another protest in Moscow on Tuesday. What is happening on that day?

4. How did the Biden administration respond to the beatings and arrests of thousands of Russians?

5. What security measures did authorities take prior to the demonstrations against President Putin?

6. What were protesters chanting during the rallies?

7. Leonid Martynov, who took part in the protest said, ”I’m not afraid, because we are the majority We mustn't be scared by clubs because the truth is on our side."

Navalny's wife, Yulia, who was “detained” but released after several hours pending a court hearing on charges of taking part in an unsanctioned protest said, "If we keep silent, they will come after any of us tomorrow.”

On Jan. 28, the UK Guardian reported: On Thursday Leonid Volkov, a Navalny adviser, was charged with putting underage Russians in danger after recording a video calling for young Russians to come to last week’s protests.

Volkov, who is in Latvia, said the charges were false and meant to divert attention from the protests against Putin. Young people make up a growing part of Navalny’s support because of the opposition leader’s use of social media to share the findings of his investigations into Putin’s allies.

The AP reports, “Russia’s Interior Ministry issued stern warnings to the public, saying protesters could be charged with taking part in mass riots, which carries a prison sentence of up to eight years.”

What are your thoughts on how this might compare to what has been happening in the U.S. over the past year?