Alexei Navalny’s wife Yulia joins ‘Noon against Putin’ protest against mock elections, hours before polls close

World

ALEXEI NAVALNY’s wife Yulia has joined a major protest against Russian despot Vladimir Putin just hours before his mock election ends.

The ‘Noon Against Putin’ demonstration was her husband’s hope: that the Russian people would march at noon today to strongly oppose Putin’s regime.

Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia appears at midday protest in Berlin to cast her vote in Russia's mock elections — Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia appears at midday protest in Berlin to cast her vote in Russia’s mock electionsCredit: AFP

Yulia hugs a supporter in the bustle of BerlinCredit: @Kira_Yarmysh / X

Russians line up outside a polling station in St. Petersburg to vote todayCredit: EPA

Russians living in Switzerland protest at noon in Geneva near the embassyCredit: AP

People are protesting in Georgia today at noon with angry signsCredit: AP

A protester feeds a ballot into a shredder in BerlinCredit: AFP

Before his death Navalny encouraged Russians to show up at polling stations across the country at noon and spoil their ballots, or vote for another candidate, drawing attention to widespread discontent.

But after that someone set off a petrol bomb at one station, and others used food coloring to spoil votes castwarned the Kremlin that any meeting would be criminal and people would face consequences.

Still, Navalny’s team said it was a success in Russia after thousands of people gathered at polling stations across the country in protest.

In Russian embassies around the world, where Putin’s iron fist is weaker, people could riot even more defiantly when they voted.

They showed up in large numbers, some waving banners reading “He is not president and this is not an election.”

A blood-red sign in Georgia read: ‘Enough Putin. Lies, war, repression.’

In Berlin, Navalny’s beloved wife took to the streets among crowds of supporters to protest Mad Vlad’s seizure of power.

Some chanted her name, many cheered, and she stopped to take photos with people in the crowd.

Yulia stood next to her late husband’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, looking defiant as she approached the polling station.

And Kira posted images online showing incredibly long lines outside Russian embassies in Germany as people gathered to protest.

Voters write ‘Navalny’ on ballots and Britain hits back after Russia hack – 60-Second Briefing

Navalny, 47, died in a brutal Polar Wolf prison last month as international figures and his wife publicly blamed Putin.

People are gathering in London, where more than two hundred Russians are expected to protest today.

A 19-year-old woman said she would not return to her home country until it is “free” of Putin.

Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said the marches showed a “different Russia” where people are rising up against the tyrant.

And according to Reuters, thousands gathered to take part in the symbolic protest.

However, some reports suggest that those who showed up in the afternoon may have been too afraid to protest more explicitly or that they fully supported Vlad’s false exercise of democracy.

Some told Sky News that midday was as good a time as any and may have feared arrest, just like those who protested the voting over the weekend.

Russians line up to vote on the final day of the mock electionsCredit: Reuters

Voters line up in St. Petersburg, Russia, for the final day of votingCredit: AP

A protester holds a sign with a crossed-out PutinCredit: AFP

Navalny's widow puts on a brave face for today's march at noon — Navalny’s widow puts on a brave face for today’s march at noonCredit: Reuters

The 71-year-old Putin will almost certainly ‘win’ the elections tonight and secure another six years after almost 25 years in power.

The despot has been enraged by signs of dissent over the past two days, with around 50 people arrested across the country today.

It is the first time that Russia has held elections over three days, and Putin has even shamelessly brought them to four Ukrainian regions: Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.

The former KGB spy wants to use the fake vote to show that he has the overwhelming support of the Russians.

It will help him justify his brutal actions in Ukraine, as well as in domestic policy, as he continues to crush all dissent with an iron fist.

Putin boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the run-up to the election, but Ukraine’s barrage of drone attacks across Russia this week suggests otherwise.

Votes are also taking place in Crimea, which Moscow took over from Ukraine in 2014.

Kiev considers elections taking place in parts of its territory controlled by Russia to be illegal and null and void.