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Russian Navalny Protests

Demonstrations were held on Saturday in about 100 cities and towns from Russia's Far East and Siberia to Moscow and St Petersburg following the arrest of Alexei Navalny. Navalny, who is President Putin's most high-profile critic, was poisoned last summer.

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The story

In the freezing cold, out they came. Thousands of protesters taking to the streets to demand change. In Vladivostok, in the far east of the country, there were scuffles with police as they tried to disrupt protests the Kremlin says are illegal. “Putin is a thief,” they shouted. “Freedom to Navalny.”

Key words and phrases

spell the end
indicate a major change is going to happen

• Electric cars spell the end for the petrol engine.
• Everyone is hoping the vaccine will spell the end for the pandemic.

downplays
makes something seem less important than it is

• It’s important not to downplay the threat of coronavirus.
• The minister downplayed her role in the corruption scandal.

echoes
reminders of past events

• There are echoes of 80s pop in lots of new music.
• Some say the attack on the Capitol had echoes of 1930s Germany.

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