Navalny Calls for More Protests against Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Russian opposition¹ politician Alexey Navalny has again called for protests against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Navalny is currently serving a prison sentence of over two years on what his supporters and Western legal experts call a false fraud charge.

The opposition leader urged his supporters to act through social media from a prison outside of Moscow. He wrote on Twitter on March 8 that anger against the war was building inside Russia. He said the anti-war feelings "will keep growing across the society, so the anti-war protests should not be halted."

Navalny also said Russians' reactions to the war "will largely define Russia's place in the history of the 21st century."

And he said it was important to show that Russian citizens do not support the policy of President Vladimir Putin.

"It's one thing if Putin killed Ukrainian civilians² and destroyed life-critical infrastructure³ with full approval from the Russian citizens. However, it's a whole different story if Putin's bloody⁴ venture is not supported by the society," he added in a series of messages.

Last week, Navalny urged daily demonstrations⁵ against the war in the country's cities.

OVD-Info is a nonprofit organization that observes police arrests nationwide. It reported that police have detained more than 13,500 people for protesting against the war since Russia began its invasion on February 24.

Navalny said his aides and associates carried out a series of computer-based opinion studies. Each of the studies asked for the opinion of 700 people from Moscow. The results showed quick changes in the way people understand Russia's actions in the war.

While admitting the study was limited, the 45-year-old lawyer said it was still clear that "it took a few days of war to bring about radical⁶ mood changes among Russians."

He added that people are willing to change their opinion, but only if they are involved in a discussion and they are able to get "true information about the war."

At first, research by government-controlled groups carrying out public opinion studies in Russia suggested that Putin had majority support.

Studies by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center and the Public Opinion Fund said more than 60 percent of Russians support the war.

But some opinion experts suggest the studies are not correct. They said there would be less reported support if the firms had asked people whether they agree with the invasion of Ukraine. Instead, it was called a "special military operation." The Russian government is calling its actions in Ukraine: a "special military operation."

Navalny added that the leadership in Russia can see there has been a change in public opinion. He said that explains their "nervousness, and the desperate attempts to end the war campaign as soon as possible."

Words in This Story

fraud – n. the crime of getting money by tricking or lying to people

infrastructure – n. the basic systems, such as transport and communication, that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively

venture – n. a new activity that may not be successful

mood – n. the way someone feels at a particular time

desperate – adj. feeling that you have no hope and are ready to do anything to change the situation you are in

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。