This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18405306#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Moscow poised for huge opposition rally | Moscow poised for huge opposition rally |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of anti-government protesters are expected to march through the Russian capital Moscow, demanding fresh elections and a new president. | Thousands of anti-government protesters are expected to march through the Russian capital Moscow, demanding fresh elections and a new president. |
| The march comes after a day after police raided the homes of several prominent activists. | The march comes after a day after police raided the homes of several prominent activists. |
| Last week, President Vladimir Putin signed a new law increasing fines for those who hold unsanctioned protests. | Last week, President Vladimir Putin signed a new law increasing fines for those who hold unsanctioned protests. |
| Mr Putin won a third presidential term in March despite protests over alleged fraud in December's parliamentary vote. | Mr Putin won a third presidential term in March despite protests over alleged fraud in December's parliamentary vote. |
| Tuesday's rally is the first since his return to office and correspondents say he appears to be taking a harder line against the opposition. | Tuesday's rally is the first since his return to office and correspondents say he appears to be taking a harder line against the opposition. |
| Those targeted by police on Monday included leading opposition activists Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov and Ilya Yashin. | Those targeted by police on Monday included leading opposition activists Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov and Ilya Yashin. |
| Police also searched the home of Ksenia Sobchak - a well known TV presenter and daughter of Mr Putin's late mentor and St Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak - who has joined the protest movement. | Police also searched the home of Ksenia Sobchak - a well known TV presenter and daughter of Mr Putin's late mentor and St Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak - who has joined the protest movement. |
| "People barged in at 8am, gave me no chance to get dressed, robbed the apartment, humiliated me," Ms Sobchak said in a Twitter post. | "People barged in at 8am, gave me no chance to get dressed, robbed the apartment, humiliated me," Ms Sobchak said in a Twitter post. |
| "I never thought we would return to such repression in this country." | "I never thought we would return to such repression in this country." |
| Mr Udaltsov told reporters that police had "rifled through everything, every wardrobe, in the toilet, in the refrigerator. They searched under the beds". | Mr Udaltsov told reporters that police had "rifled through everything, every wardrobe, in the toilet, in the refrigerator. They searched under the beds". |
| Summoned | Summoned |
| Mr Navalny said police seized computer disks containing photos of his children, along with clothes including a sweatshirt bearing an opposition slogan. | Mr Navalny said police seized computer disks containing photos of his children, along with clothes including a sweatshirt bearing an opposition slogan. |
| Federal investigators have summoned the opposition leaders to appear for questioning just one hour before the scheduled start of the rally. | Federal investigators have summoned the opposition leaders to appear for questioning just one hour before the scheduled start of the rally. |
| Following the raids, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Washington was "deeply concerned by the apparent harassment of Russian political opposition figures on the eve of the planned demonstrations on June 12". | Following the raids, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Washington was "deeply concerned by the apparent harassment of Russian political opposition figures on the eve of the planned demonstrations on June 12". |
| "Taken together, these measures raise serious questions about the arbitrary use of law enforcement to stifle free speech and free assembly," she said. | "Taken together, these measures raise serious questions about the arbitrary use of law enforcement to stifle free speech and free assembly," she said. |
| The searches also triggered a wave of protest from Russian bloggers, who compared the actions to those of Stalin's secret police in the 1930s. | The searches also triggered a wave of protest from Russian bloggers, who compared the actions to those of Stalin's secret police in the 1930s. |
| Artyom Liss of BBC Russian said the raids may draw new supporters to the anti-Putin cause. | Artyom Liss of BBC Russian said the raids may draw new supporters to the anti-Putin cause. |
| Are you in Russia? Are you planning to take part in the protests? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below. At no time should you endanger yourself or others or take any unnecessary risks. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | |
| Read the terms and conditions |