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Russian protesters call for release of political prisoners | Russian protesters call for release of political prisoners |
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Up to 20,000 Russian opposition supporters have protested against the Kremlin, demanding the release of political prisoners. Protests exactly a year ago in the same square the day before Vladimir Putin's third presidential inauguration ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and police. | |
Participants in Monday's rally, which passed off peacefully amid heavy police cordons, called for the release of more than two dozen people facing criminal charges from last year's protest. | |
Since Putin returned to office, the authorities have taken legal action against opposition activists, and the Kremlin-controlled parliament has quickly approved a series of repressive bills that sharply increased fines for participation in unauthorised rallies and imposed new restrictions on civil society activists. | |
Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader facing trial on embezzlement charges he said were fabricated on Putin's orders, urged protesters to "throw [Putin] out of the Kremlin". His chant of "Russia will be free!" was repeated by the crowd. | |
A scuffle erupted when a small group of pro-Putin activists shouted provocative slogans. Police escorted them away. | A scuffle erupted when a small group of pro-Putin activists shouted provocative slogans. Police escorted them away. |
A few hours before the rally, a man helping build the stage was killed when sound equipment collapsed on him. Officials are investigating the incident. | |
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