Alexei Navalny allies call for mass protests in Russia to save his life

Kremlin critic's team want showdown as Vladimir Putin delivers state of the nation address

Allies of Alexei Navalny have called on his supporters to stage mass protests on Wednesday in towns and cities all across Russia, amid a dire warning that the jailed Kremlin critic and opposition leader is now dangerously ill and could die at any minute".

Navalny's team said the situation had got so desperate that there was no time to delay. They had previously said street protests would resume once they reached 500,000 signatures in support - with the current tally about 50,000 short.