Foreign powers are encouraging protests in Russia, taking advantage of Coronavirus pandemic: Russian President Vladimir Putin

Moscow: – Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused that taking advantage of the frustration and resentment in the Russian population, foreign powers are nurturing the Russian protests. Protests are being held all over Russia due to the arrest of Putin’s opponent Alexi Navalny. Against the background of these protests, the United States and the European countries have started pressurising Russia and have even threatened with sanctions. While reacting to this, Putin accused that foreign powers are responsible for the Russian protests.

Last year, in August, there was a near-fatal poisoning attempt on Alexi Navalny. It was being accused that the Russian government was responsible for the poisoning of Navalny, considered to be a bitter rival of President Putin. Last month, immediately after his return to Russia, Navalny was arrested and sent to prison. Therefore, Navalny’s supporters and opponents of Putin started demonstrations all around Russia. The Russian agencies have taken harsh actions against the protestors and have arrested thousands of protestors. The protestors have a large percentage of youth.

A few days ago, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had issued a stern warning against the possible imposition of sanctions against Russia by the United States and Europe. President Putin accusing a foreign hand in the protests, after that, becomes significant.

President Putin accused, ‘All the major countries of the world have been hit by recession due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and Russia is no exception. The lifestyle of the people has been lowered, and people are becoming unhappy and irritable. Blaming the government for every little thing in such a scenario is just natural. But the opponents in Russia have used this resentment in the Russian population to flareup the anti-government sentiment.’

Russian President Putin castigated the United States and European countries saying, ‘People like Navalny, ambitious and hungry for power, have been specially groomed. Foreign powers are using them to weaken Russia and gain control over it. Russia is successful in many sectors, and this has not gone down well with these foreign powers. Therefore, a policy to keep Russia under control has been drafted. The decisions against the Russian economy also are a part of the same policy.’

Only last month, while addressing the World Economic Forum meeting, President Putin had warned the foreign powers. President Putin had warned that trade blockades and economic and technological sanctions could invite a military action, and this will prove dangerous for everyone. At this time, President Putin had fired strong salvos even at the giants in the technology sector.