Russian authorities warn against pro-Navalny protests

Authorities in Russia on Friday warned against protests over the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny planned by his supporters for Saturday in Moscow and more than 60 Russian cities.

The warnings come as Navalny's associates in Moscow and other regions have been detained in the lead-up to the rallies.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged Muscovites not to attend the rally.

Sobyanin cited coronavirus concerns, called the upcoming demonstration "unlawful" and said law enforcement agencies will "ensure the necessary order" in the city.

Russia's Prosecutor General also issued a public warning against attending or calling for unauthorized rallies.

This comes as Russia's largest social network VKontakte blocked all pages dedicated to the rallies.

Roskomnadzor, Russia's media and social media watchdog, also announced that it would fine social media companies for encouraging minors to participate in the protests, after pressure from the Prosecutor General's office.

The move came amid media reports of calls for demonstrations  - and videos of school students replacing portraits of President Vladimir Putin in their classrooms with that of Navalny - going viral among teenagers on social network TikTok.

The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal probe into the enticement of minors into protesting, accusing unidentified supporters of Navalny of encouraging minors to participate in the rallies on social media.

Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and Kremlin's fiercest critic, was arrested on Sunday when he returned to Russia from Germany, where he had spent nearly five months recovering from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.

He could face years in prison - authorities accused him of violating the terms of a suspended sentence in a 2014 conviction for financial misdeeds.

However Navalny's allies are telling supporters not to get discouraged and to show up on Saturday.

Dozens of influential Russians, including actors, musicians, journalists, writers, athletes and popular bloggers, have come out with statements in support of Navalny, and some promised to attend the demonstrations.