In Russia, more than 1,600 protesters including top opposition leader Alexei Navalny were detained today during nationwide rallies against Vladimir Putin. According to an independent monitor OVD-Info, at least 1,607 people had been detained at demonstrations in 20 Russian cities. It said 704 were arrested in Moscow alone, and another 229 in St Petersburg.
Vladimir Putin is to be inaugurated for a new six-year term on Monday after winning Presidential election in March with 77 per cent of the vote.
Navalny had hoped to challenge him on the ballot but was blocked because of a felony conviction in a case that supporters regard as falsified in order to marginalise him. Navalny has called nationwide demonstrations several times in the past year, and their turnout has rattled the Kremlin.
Source: AIR