Russia arrests opposition leader for organizing illegal protests
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested today at an unauthorized protest in Moscow.
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Police arrested Navalny today in Pushkinskaya Square. Photo:AFP. |
"Navalny appeared at Pushkinskaya Square and was quickly arrested,"Moscow Timesquoted Leonid Volkov, an opposition politician, as saying. Mr. Navalny has called for protests today in more than 90 towns and cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, ahead of Vladimir Putin's inauguration as president.
Putin won a landslide victory in March's election, extending his rule for another six years, until 2024. He will be Russia's longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for nearly 30 years. He will be inaugurated for a fourth term as president on May 7.
The Russian government considers most of the protests illegal, arguing that the timing and location were not agreed with the authorities in advance.
Navalny is barred from running for president because of a conviction for fraud, which he denies is politically motivated. He has also been arrested several times. In January, he was arrested for leading anti-government protests and calling on Russians to boycott the presidential election.
