French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has condemned as "unbearable" the Russian determination to break hunger-striking opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, warning that the European Union will not hesitate to sanction Vladimir Putin and the Russian authorities in the event of Navalny's death in prison.

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Thousands of people took to the streets across Russia on Wednesday evening, demanding freedom and proper medical attention for Navalny, who has been on hunger strike for three weeks in a detention centre outside Moscow.

The opposition staged demonstrations in dozens of Russian cities, with the largest rallies taking place in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.