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Alexei Navalny: Hundreds detained in protests across Russia Alexei Navalny: 'More than 2,000 detained' in protests across Russia
(about 1 hour later)
Police used batons to break up protests in VladivostokPolice used batons to break up protests in Vladivostok
Hundreds of people have been detained as police try to stop nationwide protests in Russia in support of jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Russian police have detained more than 2,000 people during nationwide protests in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, monitors say.
Mr Navalny's wife, Yulia, said she had been detained at a protest in Moscow, where tens of thousands have gathered. Tens of thousands of people defied a heavy police presence to join the rallies, a huge show of defiance against President Vladimir Putin.
They were met by large numbers of riot police in the capital's Pushkin Square, and beaten back with batons. In Moscow, riot police were seen beating and dragging away protesters.
Mr Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most high-profile critic, called for protests after his arrest last weekend. Mr Navalny, President Putin's most high-profile critic, called for protests after his arrest last weekend.
He was detained on 17 January after he flew back to Moscow from Berlin, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal nerve agent attack in Russia last August.He was detained on 17 January after he flew back to Moscow from Berlin, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal nerve agent attack in Russia last August.
On his return, he was immediately taken into custody and found guilty of violating parole conditions. He says it is a trumped-up case designed to silence him, and has called on his supporters to protest.On his return, he was immediately taken into custody and found guilty of violating parole conditions. He says it is a trumped-up case designed to silence him, and has called on his supporters to protest.
Prior to the rallies, Russian authorities had promised a tough crackdown, with police saying any unauthorised demonstrations and provocations would be "immediately suppressed". Several of Mr Navalny's close aides, including his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, were arrested earlier in the week.Prior to the rallies, Russian authorities had promised a tough crackdown, with police saying any unauthorised demonstrations and provocations would be "immediately suppressed". Several of Mr Navalny's close aides, including his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, were arrested earlier in the week.
Who is Russia's vociferous Putin critic?Who is Russia's vociferous Putin critic?
'Let him go!' - Navalny activists defy bitter cold'Let him go!' - Navalny activists defy bitter cold
OVD Info, an independent NGO that monitors rallies, said that more than 1,600 people had been detained during protests across the country on Saturday. OVD Info, an independent NGO that monitors rallies, said more than 2,100 people had been detained during protests, more than 700 of them in Moscow alone.
Mr Navalny's wife, Yulia, said she had been detained at a protest and later released.
Teenagers were among the many Navalny supporters who joined the demonstration in Moscow's central Pushkin Square. They were later forced by police to disperse to neighbouring streets.Teenagers were among the many Navalny supporters who joined the demonstration in Moscow's central Pushkin Square. They were later forced by police to disperse to neighbouring streets.
Russia's interior ministry said 4,000 had turned up in Moscow, but opposition sources and reporters on the ground say it was in the tens of thousands.Russia's interior ministry said 4,000 had turned up in Moscow, but opposition sources and reporters on the ground say it was in the tens of thousands.
According to OVD Info, more than 500 people were detained in Moscow alone.
Among them was Lyubov Sobol, a prominent aide of Mr Navalny who had already been fined for urging Russians to join the protests. She tweeted a video of police roughly pulling her away from an interview with reporters.Among them was Lyubov Sobol, a prominent aide of Mr Navalny who had already been fined for urging Russians to join the protests. She tweeted a video of police roughly pulling her away from an interview with reporters.
Момент задержания Любови Соболь pic.twitter.com/8Qr0xjhoDGМомент задержания Любови Соболь pic.twitter.com/8Qr0xjhoDG
Mr Navalny's wife, Yulia, also said she was being held by police at the same protest, posting an image on her Instagram account with the caption: "Apologies for the poor quality. Very bad light in the police van."Mr Navalny's wife, Yulia, also said she was being held by police at the same protest, posting an image on her Instagram account with the caption: "Apologies for the poor quality. Very bad light in the police van."
A post shared by @yulia_navalnayaA post shared by @yulia_navalnaya
Prominent Navalny activists are also being held in the cities of Vladivostok, Novosibirsk and Krasnodar.Prominent Navalny activists are also being held in the cities of Vladivostok, Novosibirsk and Krasnodar.
At the scene - by Steve Rosenberg, Moscow correspondentAt the scene - by Steve Rosenberg, Moscow correspondent
Moscow's Pushkin square is packed with anti-government protesters. "Freedom to Navalny" they're chanting, "Putin go away!"Moscow's Pushkin square is packed with anti-government protesters. "Freedom to Navalny" they're chanting, "Putin go away!"
There are long lines of riot police around the square and down Moscow's main street, Tverskaya, less than a mile from the Kremlin.There are long lines of riot police around the square and down Moscow's main street, Tverskaya, less than a mile from the Kremlin.
"This is an illegal gathering" the police are announcing through loudspeakers, "please leave.""This is an illegal gathering" the police are announcing through loudspeakers, "please leave."
There's a cacophony of car horns sounded by drivers passing the square, a show of support for the protesters.There's a cacophony of car horns sounded by drivers passing the square, a show of support for the protesters.
One driver had hung a pair of underpants out of his car window, a reference to Mr Navalny's poisoning. The Novichok nerve agent had allegedly been applied to Alexei Navalny's underwear.One driver had hung a pair of underpants out of his car window, a reference to Mr Navalny's poisoning. The Novichok nerve agent had allegedly been applied to Alexei Navalny's underwear.
One woman in the crowd told me she decided to take part in the protest because "Russia has been turned into a prison camp," and to support the country's most prominent opposition figure, who is behind bars.One woman in the crowd told me she decided to take part in the protest because "Russia has been turned into a prison camp," and to support the country's most prominent opposition figure, who is behind bars.
Russia's Far East saw some of the first protests on Saturday, with people braving the extreme cold in a show of support for Mr Navalny.Russia's Far East saw some of the first protests on Saturday, with people braving the extreme cold in a show of support for Mr Navalny.
Attendees at a small protest in the Siberian city of Yakutsk saw temperatures dip as low as -50C (-58F).Attendees at a small protest in the Siberian city of Yakutsk saw temperatures dip as low as -50C (-58F).
One independent news source, Sota, said at least 3,000 people had joined a demonstration in the city of Vladivostok but local authorities there put the figure at 500.One independent news source, Sota, said at least 3,000 people had joined a demonstration in the city of Vladivostok but local authorities there put the figure at 500.
AFP footage showed riot police in Vladivostok running into a crowd, and beating some of the protesters with batons.AFP footage showed riot police in Vladivostok running into a crowd, and beating some of the protesters with batons.
Police started breaking up groups of protesters before the protest began in Moscow's Pushkin SquarePolice started breaking up groups of protesters before the protest began in Moscow's Pushkin Square
Protesters - and police - braved freezing conditions in YakutskProtesters - and police - braved freezing conditions in Yakutsk
Meanwhile, there were reports of disruption to mobile phone and internet coverage in Russia on Saturday - though it is not known if this is related to the protests.Meanwhile, there were reports of disruption to mobile phone and internet coverage in Russia on Saturday - though it is not known if this is related to the protests.
The social media app TikTok had been flooded with videos promoting the demonstrations and sharing viral messages about Mr Navalny.The social media app TikTok had been flooded with videos promoting the demonstrations and sharing viral messages about Mr Navalny.
In response, Russia's official media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, demanded that TikTok take down any information "encouraging minors to act illegally", threatening large fines.In response, Russia's official media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, demanded that TikTok take down any information "encouraging minors to act illegally", threatening large fines.
Russia's education ministry has also told parents not to allow their children to attend any demonstrations.Russia's education ministry has also told parents not to allow their children to attend any demonstrations.
In a push to gain support ahead of the protests, Mr Navalny's team released a video about a luxury Black Sea resort that they allege belongs to President Putin - an accusation denied by the Kremlin.In a push to gain support ahead of the protests, Mr Navalny's team released a video about a luxury Black Sea resort that they allege belongs to President Putin - an accusation denied by the Kremlin.
The video has been watched by more than 65m people.The video has been watched by more than 65m people.