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Putin critic Alexei Navalny held as thousands attend Russia protests Russia protests: 'Hundreds detained' at opposition rallies
(about 1 hour later)
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been detained at home ahead of a planned unauthorised protest in Moscow, his wife says. Hundreds of people have been detained at anti-corruption rallies in Moscow and St Petersburg, an NGO says.
"Alexei has been arrested in the entrance to our block of flats," Yuliya Navalnaya wrote on Twitter, adding "our plans haven't changed". Riot police in central Moscow were picking protesters out of the crowd at random, a BBC correspondent at the demonstration has said.
Thousands of his supporters have heeded his call to protest against corruption. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was detained at his home ahead of the protests, according to his wife.
OVD-Info, an NGO, says 121 people have been detained in Moscow and 137 in St Petersburg. Thousands of supporters have heeded his call to take to the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities.
Riot police are pushing protesters back along Moscow's main street, Tverskaya, which runs up to the Kremlin. OVD-Info, an NGO, told Russian media that more than 400 had been detained at the Moscow protest. More than 300 people were detained at the rally in St Petersburg, the Fontanka.ru news website reported.
The crowd is shouting "Russia without Putin", and "Down with the tsar," says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who is reporting from the demonstration. Riot police have mostly cleared protesters from Moscow's main street, Tverskaya, which runs up to the Kremlin, but not yet from Pushkin Square, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford.
Mr Navalny, who intends to stand for the Russian presidency next year, had been due to attend the unauthorised rally in central Moscow on Monday. Many of those detained were young people, apparently teenagers, our correspondent at the scene says.
As well as Moscow, protesters angry at alleged corruption have taken to the streets in St Petersburg and several other Russian cities. The crowd was shouting "Russia without Putin", and "Down with the tsar," says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who is also reporting from the demonstration in Moscow.
In a live broadcast by the Russian liberal TV channel Dozhd, protesters in St Petersburg could be heard shouting "shame" as they were detained by police. Among those arrested was Maxim Reznik, the city's legislative assembly deputy. "Alexei [Navalny] has been arrested in the entrance to our block of flats," Yuliya Navalnaya wrote on Twitter, ahead of the demonstration.
Prominent activist Daniil Ken said he was arrested as he left his home in St Petersburg. He urged people to join a rally at the city's Champ de Mars square. "Go for me, please!" he tweeted. He has since been released. Mr Navalny, who intends to stand for the Russian presidency next year, had been due to attend the unauthorised rally in central Moscow.
Police earlier detained several people at demonstrations in the cities of Vladivostok, Blagoveshchensk and Kazan. In a live broadcast by the Russian liberal TV channel, Dozhd, protesters in St Petersburg could be heard shouting "shame" as they were detained by police. Among those arrested was Maxim Reznik, the city's legislative assembly deputy.
Prominent activist Daniil Ken said he was arrested as he left his home in St Petersburg. He urged people to join the rally at the city's Champ de Mars square. "Go for me, please!" he tweeted. He has since been released.
Police had earlier detained several people at demonstrations in the cities of Vladivostok, Blagoveshchensk and Kazan.
At the scene - by Sarah Rainsford, central Moscow
It is a national holiday in Russia so Tverskaya Street was already filled with families when protesters began to turn up.
Thousands poured into central Moscow, mingling with those people who had been taking part in the festivities for Russia Day
A lot of the protesters were deliberately wrapped in the Russia flag. They say they are here as Russians and as patriots, but also as people who are unhappy with the authorities.
The police have been making loudspeaker announcements every few seconds saying that this is an illegal protest and people should disperse, but there is still a huge crowd of people in central Moscow.
Mr Navalny was earlier granted permission to hold a rally at Sakharova Avenue but changed the location - without permission - on the eve of the demonstration to Tverskaya Street, near the Kremlin.Mr Navalny was earlier granted permission to hold a rally at Sakharova Avenue but changed the location - without permission - on the eve of the demonstration to Tverskaya Street, near the Kremlin.
One of the groups participating in the Moscow rally, which is over government plans to demolish Soviet-era apartment blocks in the city, said it would hold its protest on Sakharova Avenue as planned.One of the groups participating in the Moscow rally, which is over government plans to demolish Soviet-era apartment blocks in the city, said it would hold its protest on Sakharova Avenue as planned.
Permission was granted for demonstrations in 169 locations across the country, some of which are being broadcast live on the Navalny Live YouTube channel.Permission was granted for demonstrations in 169 locations across the country, some of which are being broadcast live on the Navalny Live YouTube channel.
The protests coincide with a series of official events - including festivals, concerts and military enactments - due to take place across the country to mark Russia Day, the national holiday dedicated to the 1990 declaration of sovereignty.The protests coincide with a series of official events - including festivals, concerts and military enactments - due to take place across the country to mark Russia Day, the national holiday dedicated to the 1990 declaration of sovereignty.
Despite it being a public holiday in Russia, turnout in Monday's protests has so far been lower than similar rallies led by Mr Navalny in March, which led to hundreds of arrests. Similar rallies led by Mr Navalny in March led to hundreds of arrests.
Those protests were the largest since 2012, drawing thousands of people - including many teenagers - to rallies nationwide, angered by a report published by Mr Navalny that accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of corruption.Those protests were the largest since 2012, drawing thousands of people - including many teenagers - to rallies nationwide, angered by a report published by Mr Navalny that accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of corruption.
Are you at or planning to attend the protest? Share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you at or planning to attend the protest? Share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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