Hundreds of women in Russia took to the streets in support of political prisoners

Reports indicate that hundreds of women in Russia took to the streets on Sunday, February 16, coinciding with Valentine's Day, in solidarity with imprisoned women who have been prosecuted for political reasons.

Today's rally of protesters in Russia, called the "Chain of Solidarity and Love," was dedicated to Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of Putin, and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya.

Ms Navalnaya, who has been arrested several times in recent weeks for taking part in Russian protests in support of her husband, fled to Germany on February 10. There has been no explanation for her departure from Russia.

Images posted on social media on February 14 show Russian female protesters writing the names of female political prisoners on Valentine's Day symbols such as red balloons, rose branches, and red hearts, and chanting the slogan "Love is stronger than fear."

In a statement on Facebook, the organizers of Sunday's protest dedicated the rally to the women who were "beaten and tortured by police forces during peaceful protests," as well as all the protesters who have spent days in Russian courts, police buses, and special detention centers.

Leonid Volkov, an ally of Alexei Navalny, had previously called on Russians to gather near their homes on Valentine's Day and launch a campaign on social media by turning on their cell phone flashlights and lighting heart-shaped candles.

Alexei Navalny, who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of financial corruption, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison on charges related to a controversial "embezzlement" case dating back to 2014.

He says that the ruling was politically motivated, and tens of thousands of Russians have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest Navalny's arrest.

Source: Radio Farda