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Russian presidential vote: Navalny offices raided on day of protests Russian presidential vote: Navalny detained on day of protests
(about 3 hours later)
Police in Moscow have raided the offices of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny ahead of nationwide rallies supporting an election boycott. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been detained by police in Moscow after joining a rally in support of a presidential election boycott.
Footage posted on Mr Navalny's official YouTube channel shows officers entering a studio and questioning staff. "I have been detained," Mr Navalny, 41, tweeted (in Russian). "This means nothing," he added, urging his backers to join protests across Russia.
Mr Navalny has called for demonstrations on Sunday against Russia's presidential election, which will be held on 18 March. Earlier, police raided his offices in Moscow, reportedly seizing equipment.
President Putin's most vocal critic is barred from standing in the election. Mr Navalny - President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critic - is barred from standing in the 18 March election.
In some of the online footage, Russian police can be seen at the property of Mr Navalny's anti-corruption organisation in Moscow. In one YouTube clip, a broadcast recording is interrupted. Footage posted on Mr Navalny's Twitter page showed him being wrestled to the ground by policemen during the arrest.
The opposition leader later tweeted: "The detention of one person is meaningless if there are many of us. Someone, come and replace me."
Protest rallies are being held in a number of Russian cities. In Moscow and St Petersburg they were not sanctioned by authorities.
More than 180 people have so far been detained across the country, reports say.
Earlier on Sunday, Russian police raided the property of Mr Navalny's anti-corruption organisation in Moscow. A YouTube clip showed a broadcast recording from the office being interrupted.
A spokesman for Mr Navalny said the officers used a power tool to break into the office, adding that they said they were investigating a bomb threat.A spokesman for Mr Navalny said the officers used a power tool to break into the office, adding that they said they were investigating a bomb threat.
The raid coincides with a day of planned nationwide street protests against an upcoming vote that Mr Navalny says is rigged.
Rallies, not sanctioned by the authorities, are planned in more than 100 towns and cities on Sunday.
At least 27 people have so far been detained across Russia, including several at Mr Navalny's Moscow offices, according to reports.
Responding to the news, Mr Navalny said that the raid and detentions made protests on Sunday all the more important.
"This makes one angrier and more convinced that it is necessary to rally," Mr Navalny said, adding: "You must demonstrate - if you don't, you won't forgive yourself later."
Mr Navalny also tweeted footage reportedly showing a heavy police presence in Moscow on Sunday.
Hundreds of people gathered in the main square of the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.
Other protests are taking place in Novosibirsk, Kurgan, Omsk, Magadan, Kemerovo and Yakutsk.
The demonstrations come after weeks of pressure on Mr Navalny's supporters across Russia, who have faced detentions and had leaflets in support of the rallies confiscated.The demonstrations come after weeks of pressure on Mr Navalny's supporters across Russia, who have faced detentions and had leaflets in support of the rallies confiscated.
Mr Navalny, who insists he would beat Mr Putin in a fair fight, is barred from running in the ballot over a criminal conviction that he says is politically motivated.Mr Navalny, who insists he would beat Mr Putin in a fair fight, is barred from running in the ballot over a criminal conviction that he says is politically motivated.
The 41-year-old led mass street protests against Mr Putin in the winter of 2011-12 and was arrested three times in 2017 for organising unauthorised anti-Putin protests. The opposition leader led mass street protests against Mr Putin in the winter of 2011-12 and was arrested three times in 2017 for organising unauthorised anti-Putin protests.
Mr Putin, who refuses to mention Mr Navalny by name, retains a massive approval rating in Russia and is widely expected to win a fourth six-year term in office.Mr Putin, who refuses to mention Mr Navalny by name, retains a massive approval rating in Russia and is widely expected to win a fourth six-year term in office.