Some Moscow and Saint Petersburg residents illuminated their phones in residential areas and squares, and expressed their support for Navalny.

Supporters of Alexei Navalny, the leader of the detained Russian opposition party, took to the streets in cold weather, after Navalny's team called on residents to conduct 15-minute rallies and posted photos on social media.

Small groups, each with dozens of people, illuminated at locations in Russia's two largest cities, expressing their support for Nalvany.

In a small playground in southwestern Moscow, about 30 people gathered.

Mikhail Orlov, one of the protesters, said he participated to express dissatisfaction with the policies of Russian President Putin.

Maria, Orlov's wife, said she was considering leaving Russia because she "didn't feel protected here".

In Saint Petersburg, Navalny supporters also gathered in small groups of mobile lights and dancing.

The protests come after authorities last week sentenced Navalny to nearly three years in prison and arrested nearly 10,000 supporters of the opposition party leader.

Hundreds of women yesterday also formed a chain of people in Moscow and Saint Petersburgh, using Valentine's Day to show support to Yulia, Nalvany's wife.

Navalny, leader of the opposition Russian People's Union party, lost consciousness in August 2020 while on a flight from Siberia to Moscow, and was then taken to Berlin, Germany, for treatment.

Immediately after returning from Germany to Russia on January 17, Navalny was arrested on charges of violating the provisions of the suspension in 2014. The Moscow court then ordered the transfer of the 3.5-year suspended sentence that Navalny received in the year