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| Vladimir Putin warns against foreign meddling as protests continue | Vladimir Putin warns against foreign meddling as protests continue |
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| Vladimir Putin presided over a bombastic military parade on Sunday marking the anniversary of the end of the second world war, in his first public act since retaking the Russian presidency. | Vladimir Putin presided over a bombastic military parade on Sunday marking the anniversary of the end of the second world war, in his first public act since retaking the Russian presidency. |
| In a speech to more than 14,000 troops and hundreds of veterans, he warned against international meddling in domestic affairs. "Strict respect for international law, state sovereignty and the independent choice of each people is one of the crucial guarantees for ensuring that the tragedy of world war two never happens again," he said. | In a speech to more than 14,000 troops and hundreds of veterans, he warned against international meddling in domestic affairs. "Strict respect for international law, state sovereignty and the independent choice of each people is one of the crucial guarantees for ensuring that the tragedy of world war two never happens again," he said. |
| Putin has faced criticism for his crackdown on protesters who are opposed to his third term as president. An opposition demonstration in Moscow turned violent on Sunday, with riot police using batons and pepper spray to subdue protesters. | Putin has faced criticism for his crackdown on protesters who are opposed to his third term as president. An opposition demonstration in Moscow turned violent on Sunday, with riot police using batons and pepper spray to subdue protesters. |
| Since then, smaller groups of protesters have been wandering the city from square to square, periodically facing off with riot police called in to clear them out. Many dozens have been arrested, often repeatedly. The anti-corruption crusader Alexey Navalny and the far-left activist Sergei Udaltsov have both been detained several times and released after being ordered to pay fines. In a sign that the authorities' patience could be running out, Navalny and Udaltsov were sentenced to 15 days in prison on Wednesday evening after the court found them guilty of disobeying a police officer. | |
| Many journalists were among the detained. "We are shocked by the level of police brutality against journalists," the campaign group Reporters Without Borders said. "No distinction was made between demonstrators and those who came to cover the demonstration, carrying press cards. This is unacceptable. We call on the authorities to stop deliberately targeting journalists." | Many journalists were among the detained. "We are shocked by the level of police brutality against journalists," the campaign group Reporters Without Borders said. "No distinction was made between demonstrators and those who came to cover the demonstration, carrying press cards. This is unacceptable. We call on the authorities to stop deliberately targeting journalists." |
| The anti-Putin protest, which entered its fourth day on Wednesday, rarely counted above 500 people at one time. Yet hundreds of riot police, backed by armoured vehicles and arrest vans, occupied the city. By Tuesday night they appeared to have run out of arrest vans for the detained and began using regular city buses. Several of the detained appeared to have been targeted for wearing a white ribbon, the symbol of the protest movement. | The anti-Putin protest, which entered its fourth day on Wednesday, rarely counted above 500 people at one time. Yet hundreds of riot police, backed by armoured vehicles and arrest vans, occupied the city. By Tuesday night they appeared to have run out of arrest vans for the detained and began using regular city buses. Several of the detained appeared to have been targeted for wearing a white ribbon, the symbol of the protest movement. |
| On Wednesday, hundreds of anti-Putin protesters joined a Communist rally marking the 67th anniversary of the end of the war, shouting "Putin is a thief!" and "We beat Hitler, we'll beat Putin too". The Russian branch of Anonymous briefly brought down Putin's website on Wednesday. | On Wednesday, hundreds of anti-Putin protesters joined a Communist rally marking the 67th anniversary of the end of the war, shouting "Putin is a thief!" and "We beat Hitler, we'll beat Putin too". The Russian branch of Anonymous briefly brought down Putin's website on Wednesday. |
| The Communists delivered no votes for Dmitry Medvedev when his nomination as prime minister was put forward for approval in the state Duma on Tuesday. He won the vote but about a third of MPs voted against him. The job swap between Putin and Medvedev has angered many in Moscow, who see it as a further example of Putin's authoritarianism. | The Communists delivered no votes for Dmitry Medvedev when his nomination as prime minister was put forward for approval in the state Duma on Tuesday. He won the vote but about a third of MPs voted against him. The job swap between Putin and Medvedev has angered many in Moscow, who see it as a further example of Putin's authoritarianism. |