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Police officers in Moscow
Photo:
Sergei Savostyanov / imago images / ITAR-TASS
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Volkov, you and your colleagues called for protests.
Are you satisfied with the result?
Volkov:
Yes.
Despite an unprecedented campaign of intimidation, more people have taken to the streets than ever before, and in more cities than ever before.
I assume there were around 300,000 people across the country.
We didn't even have that much in 2011, when the rallies were officially approved.
SPIEGEL:
Independent estimates are lower; for Moscow, for example, they range from 20,000 to a maximum of 40,000 people.
But it is impressive how many cities there were demonstrations.
Apparently also where there is no "staff" of Navalny's organization?
Volkov:
We have 40 staff in the country.
Demonstrations took place in 120 cities.
SPIEGEL:
You have already called for new protests this coming weekend.
Was that intended from the start?
Volkov:
It was clear that we would not be able to free Alexei with a single rally.
And indirectly, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed this to us when he claimed that there were only a few people at the demonstrations - many people against it voted for Putin.
Apparently Peskow counts anyone who does not take to the streets to be Putin's supporters.
That was a rather provocative sentence that we would like to answer.
Of course, a lot depends on whether the wave of protests will grow.
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