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| Russia far east protest over Khabarovsk governor's arrest | Russia far east protest over Khabarovsk governor's arrest |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people have taken part in protests in Russia's far east over the arrest of a regional leader. | Thousands of people have taken part in protests in Russia's far east over the arrest of a regional leader. |
| They marched to the regional government in Khabarovsk shouting slogans against President Vladimir Putin. | They marched to the regional government in Khabarovsk shouting slogans against President Vladimir Putin. |
| Khabarovsk governor Sergei Furgal was detained on Thursday, accused of having ordered the killing of several business people 15 years ago. | Khabarovsk governor Sergei Furgal was detained on Thursday, accused of having ordered the killing of several business people 15 years ago. |
| Mr Furgal defeated the candidate of Mr Putin's United Russia party in elections two years ago. | Mr Furgal defeated the candidate of Mr Putin's United Russia party in elections two years ago. |
| His party, the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democrat Party of Russia, is usually seen as loyal to the Kremlin. | His party, the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democrat Party of Russia, is usually seen as loyal to the Kremlin. |
| But correspondents say Mr Furgal's victory was seen as a blow to United Russia's grip on power in the regions, and he is a popular figure in the far east. | But correspondents say Mr Furgal's victory was seen as a blow to United Russia's grip on power in the regions, and he is a popular figure in the far east. |
| Estimates by regional media and opposition put the number of demonstrators at between 5,000 and 40,000, in a city of about 600,000 inhabitants. | Estimates by regional media and opposition put the number of demonstrators at between 5,000 and 40,000, in a city of about 600,000 inhabitants. |
| Opposition leader Alexei Navalny's regional office described the rally, which lasted nearly four hours, as "an absolute record for our region and a unique show of unity in society". | Opposition leader Alexei Navalny's regional office described the rally, which lasted nearly four hours, as "an absolute record for our region and a unique show of unity in society". |
| Video footage showed protesters shouting slogans such as "Freedom!", "Putin is a thief" and "Putin, resign". | Video footage showed protesters shouting slogans such as "Freedom!", "Putin is a thief" and "Putin, resign". |
| Several other towns in the region held smaller protests. Police did not intervene or make any arrests. | Several other towns in the region held smaller protests. Police did not intervene or make any arrests. |
| Anger at Moscow's 'political' move | Anger at Moscow's 'political' move |
| Thousands took to the streets of Khabarovsk in what locals are calling the biggest protest they've seen in decades. | Thousands took to the streets of Khabarovsk in what locals are calling the biggest protest they've seen in decades. |
| They're angry at the arrest of Sergei Furgal and from their chants - against Moscow, and against Vladimir Putin himself - they believe the move is political. | They're angry at the arrest of Sergei Furgal and from their chants - against Moscow, and against Vladimir Putin himself - they believe the move is political. |
| In 2018, Mr Furgal beat the Kremlin's chosen candidate for governor by a landslide. He's proved popular locally, cutting the number of civil servants and putting the governor's yacht up for sale. | In 2018, Mr Furgal beat the Kremlin's chosen candidate for governor by a landslide. He's proved popular locally, cutting the number of civil servants and putting the governor's yacht up for sale. |
| Now he's facing a murder charge, from his pre-political days in the murky world of metals trading. Mr Furgal's supporters want to know why the authorities waited until now, though, 15 years later to arrest him. | |
| The protests were not authorised and in Khabarovsk the meeting point had been taped-off overnight, supposedly for Covid 19 disinfection. But the crowds marched in any case, and the police - on this occasion - didn't intervene. | The protests were not authorised and in Khabarovsk the meeting point had been taped-off overnight, supposedly for Covid 19 disinfection. But the crowds marched in any case, and the police - on this occasion - didn't intervene. |
| Mr Furgal was arrested by masked law enforcement officers on 9 July and brought to Moscow. A day later he was remanded in custody for two months ahead of his trial. | Mr Furgal was arrested by masked law enforcement officers on 9 July and brought to Moscow. A day later he was remanded in custody for two months ahead of his trial. |
| He is accused of organising two murders and one attempted murder of businessmen in 2004-05, and could face life imprisonment. | He is accused of organising two murders and one attempted murder of businessmen in 2004-05, and could face life imprisonment. |
| The arrest comes amid fears of a crackdown on opposition following last week's vote to approve constitutional reforms that will allow Mr Putin the option of seeking two more terms in office. | The arrest comes amid fears of a crackdown on opposition following last week's vote to approve constitutional reforms that will allow Mr Putin the option of seeking two more terms in office. |
| On Tuesday, Russian space agency official and former journalist Ivan Safranov was charged with treason, following accusations that he had passed official secrets to a Nato country. | On Tuesday, Russian space agency official and former journalist Ivan Safranov was charged with treason, following accusations that he had passed official secrets to a Nato country. |