Protests began on 11 July 2020 in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, in support of the popular then-Governor, Sergei Furgal, after his arrest that was seen by many as politically motivated.

[3][4][5][6][7] Similar protests in support of Furgal also took place in other mostly eastern cities, including Novosibirsk, Vladivostok and Omsk.

[8][9][10][11][12][13] In September 2018, Sergei Furgal won Khabarovsk Krai's gubernatorial election, beating the incumbent from the United Russia party in a landslide victory.

[5] The Financial Times reported that "voters who flocked to Mr Furgal say they did so not for his or his party's distinct policies, but as a protest vote against the United Russia incumbent.

[16] On 9 July 2020, Furgal was arrested by the Investigative Committee of Russia and flown to Moscow on charges of involvement in the murders of several businessmen in 2004–2005.

[18] According to LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, he suggested Sergei Furgal temporarily resign his powers for the period of the investigation, to avoid a "hard scenario".

[20] From 11 July 2020, protesters in Khabarovsk for months joined daily to support the now-fired governor Furgal and called for Putin to go.

[23] On 12 July, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia — Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev arrived in Khabarovsk, who assessed the organisation of work of the region's leadership as poor, and said about the protests that "people have the right to express their opinions".

Mikhail Degtyarev, an MP from the city of Samara, who is also a member of the LDPR, was appointed acting governor until next year's election.

[27] During his press conference, Degtyarev said that he does not intend to compete with Furgal in the election if he is acquitted and decides to run for governor again.

[29] On 21 July, two regional lawmakers in Khabarovsk, Pyotr Yemelyanov and Aleksandr Kayan, opted to leave the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia in protest against Furgal's dismissal.

The owner of the "Furgalmobile" food truck was charged under Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation.

[46] However two days later, it was announced by the chairman that the decision was reversed after a meeting with the regional party leader and the acting governor Mikhail Degtyarev.

[50] The issue of Furgal was brought up as part of protestors' grievances during the 2021 Russian protests, which began on 23 January 2021, organised largely by opposition figure Alexey Navalny.

[51][52] Mooreover, on 19 June 2021, approximately 500 people gathered at a sanctioned rally in Khabarovsk "against political arbitrariness" in support of Furgal.

Despite the restrictions, on 5 June 2022, a motor rally in support of Sergei Furgal, agreed with the City Administration, was held with the participation of about 10 cars.

On 9 July 2022, on the second anniversary of the arrest of Sergei Furgal, a rally in support of the ex-governor was held in front of the KDD "Rus", which was attended by more than a hundred people.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent political repressions in and militarisation of the country took attention away from the Furgal issue.

For example, on 12 February 2023, a rally was held on the square in front of the Rus' Regional Friendship House to mark Sergey Furgal's birthday, which was attended by over seventy residents who were not indifferent.