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-40245152

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Russia protests: 'Hundreds detained' at opposition rallies Russia protests: 'Hundreds detained' at opposition rallies
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of people have been detained at anti-corruption rallies in Moscow and St Petersburg, an NGO says.Hundreds of people have been detained at anti-corruption rallies in Moscow and St Petersburg, an NGO says.
Riot police in central Moscow were picking protesters out of the crowd at random, a BBC correspondent at the demonstration has said.Riot police in central Moscow were picking protesters out of the crowd at random, a BBC correspondent at the demonstration has said.
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was detained at his home ahead of the protests, according to his wife.Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was detained at his home ahead of the protests, according to his wife.
Thousands of supporters have heeded his call to take to the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities.Thousands of supporters have heeded his call to take to the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities.
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.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.
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.
Many of those detained were young people, apparently teenagers, our correspondent at the scene says.
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.
"Alexei [Navalny] has been arrested in the entrance to our block of flats," Yuliya Navalnaya wrote on Twitter, ahead of the demonstration."Alexei [Navalny] has been arrested in the entrance to our block of flats," Yuliya Navalnaya wrote on Twitter, ahead of the demonstration.
Mr Navalny, who intends to stand for the Russian presidency next year, had been due to attend the unauthorised rally in central Moscow.Mr Navalny, who intends to stand for the Russian presidency next year, had been due to attend the unauthorised rally in central Moscow.
'Many young plucked from the crowd' - by BBC's Sarah Rainsford, central Moscow
This was a peculiar protest.
At first it was hard to tell who was taking part. Tverskaya Street was full of families marking Russia Day with entertainers in historical costumes.
Then thousands of protesters turned up. Huge numbers of riot police were right behind them.
First they announced that the rally was illegal then the arrests began. We saw dozens of people plucked from the crowd - many of them young - and dragged roughly towards police buses.
By calling people to an unauthorised rally, Alexei Navalny knew he was risking a confrontation. The police duly obliged.
But people I spoke to said they knew the risk and still wanted their voices to be heard. Among other things, those voices chanted loudly: "Putin, thief!" and "Russia will be free".
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.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.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.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.
Similar rallies led by Mr Navalny in March 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.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below