Allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny are planning the largest street protest in modern Russian history this week to highlight his failing health from a hunger strike that has lasted nearly three weeks.
"Things are developing too quickly and too badly," they wrote on Navalny's website, announcing their plans for nationwide protests. "We can no longer wait and postpone. An extreme situation demands extreme decisions."
Russia regards the protests as illegal and used force to break up demonstrations in the past. The latest protests are planned for Wednesday to coincide with President Vladimir Putin's annual state of the nation speech to the political elite.
Navalny, a fierce opponent of the Kremlin, started to refuse food on March 31 in protest against what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to provide him with adequate medical care for acute back and leg pain.
On Saturday, a medical trade union with ties to Navalny said he was in a critical condition, citing medical tests that it said showed that his kidneys could soon fail, which could lead to cardiac arrest.
In February, he was sentenced to jail after returning to Russia from Germany, where he had treatment for a nerve-agent poisoning attack that he blamed on Mr Putin.
The US on Sunday warned Russia that there would be consequences if Navalny died in jail.
Prison authorities say they offered him proper medical care but that Navalny, 44, refused it and insisted on being treated by a doctor of his choice from outside the jail, a request they declined.
Russia's ambassador to Britain told the BBC that Navalny was attention-seeking, but that Moscow would ensure he lived.
"He will not be allowed to die in prison but I can say that Mr Navalny … he behaves like a hooligan, absolutely," Andrei Kelin said.
"His purpose for all of that is to attract attention."
Navalny previously said prison authorities threatened to put him in a straitjacket and force-feed him unless he accepted food.
His supporters face the prospect of their movement being officially outlawed and declared extremist, a move that would expose activists to the possibility of lengthy jail terms.
Navalny's allies declared a moratorium on protests after staging three demonstrations at the height of winter. Thousands of people were detained by authorities.
Some protesters were unhappy that the demonstrations were halted, but organisers said they would hold a major protest once 500,000 people registered online to take part.
In light of Navalny's poor health, organisers said they were calling the protest on Wednesday, despite being about 40,000 people short of their target.
"Navalny is now in a prison camp and his life is hanging by a thread. We don't know how much longer he can hold out," they said.
The Kremlin has cast Navalny as US-backed subversive on a mission to destabilise Russia.
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
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He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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