ĭespite the protests, Navalny's suspended sentence of three and a half years was replaced with a prison sentence on 2 February. In response to Navalny's deterioration of health while in prison, street protests were held again on 21 April for the last time. As a result, Navalny's team announced a suspension of street protests on 4 February, stating that they would focus on legislative elections that would be held later in the year, and later announcing a shift from street protests to courtyard protests to avoid direct confrontation with police. Unsanctioned by the authorities, the protests were met with police crackdowns, with thousands detained. On the first day, protests were held in 198 towns and cities across Russia in what were one of the largest anti-government demonstrations since protests were held against the results of legislative elections in 2011 and Putin's re-election in 2012. Days before protests began, a film by Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) called Putin's Palace, which revolves around the connection between president Vladimir Putin and a palace allegedly being built for him, was released. Protests in Russia began on 23 January 2021 in support of the opposition leader Alexei Navalny after he was immediately detained upon returning to Russia after being sent to Germany for treatment following his poisoning the previous year.