Dozens of female protesters gathered in central Moscow on Valentine's Day (February 14) to form a "chain of solidarity and love" for Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The demonstrators held balloons, flowers and posters calling for the release of Navalny and other "political prisoners", including Russian activist Anastasiya Shevchenko.

Navalny was arrested in January on his return from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal nerve agent attack allegedly by Russia’s FSB spy agency.

He was jailed on 2 February for violating parole on what he said were trumped-up charges.

Schevchenko has been under house arrest for more than two years. and her supporters say her only "crime" was participating in a public debate.

The prosecution argues that her activities were linked to a banned foreign organization, Open Russia Civic Movement (ORCM).

This footage was filmed and produced 14 February 2021.
“Chain of Solidarity and Love” in central Moscow on Valentine's Day in support of Yulia Navalnaya, a wife of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, as well as Russian women prosecuted for political reasons.
People who gathered peacefully in Moscow were holding balloons, flowers, "black hearts", white ribbons, photos of political prisoners and posters, such as: "Freedom for political prisoners" and "Anastasiya Shevchenko - human rights activist. She faces 5 years for participating in an "undesirable" organization" [0:40].
Returning back to Russia, Alexey Navalny was detained by the police right in the airport building. This provoked a wave of protest, the leader of which was Navalny's headquarters, as well as the symbol of the protests, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya.

[0:11] - You have written on the poster: "Freedom for political prisoners". And who do you consider a political prisoner?
[0:15] - All people.
[0:47] - (inaudible) ... -This is Nadya and this is Masha.
[0:51] - Nadya, Masha.
[0:52] - I hope you... (ends)