Mass raids on the regional offices of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny are taking place across the country. Navalny’s supporters relate the searches to a criminal investigation into the alleged laundering of 1 billion rubles ($15 million). Russian law enforcement authorities believe that during three years the employees of the so-called “Anti-Corruption Foundation” were receiving large sums of money through some dubious methods, to which the foundation’s "accomplices gave a legal appearance" by transferring the funds to bank accounts. A criminal case against Navalny’s allies and supporters was opened this summer.
The mass raids were carried out on the homes and offices of leaders of Navalny's regional headquarters in 40 cities of Russia. It is also worth mentioning that the relatives of legal representatives are also being questioned.
Yuri Kuzminykh Coordinator at Navalny’s campaign headquarters in Ekaterinburg: "Most of all, I am outraged by the fact that my wife’s elderly parents were detained. They live in Shuvakish Village. As it turned out, they were taken to Shchors Police Station. Moreover, my father-in-law is gravely ill. He hardly walks. He needs ongoing treatment andcontinued orthopaedic care. Nevertheless, they were dragged to police, and I do not know how they will manage to return home".