More than 1,000 protesters, including top Opposition leader Alexei Navalny were detained on Saturday during nationwide rallies against Vladimir Putin’s upcoming inauguration for a fourth Kremlin term, an independent monitor said.
At least 1,029 people were held in 19 cities, said OVD-Info, adding that more than 470 people had been detained in Moscow.
The protests under the slogan “He is not our czar” are organised by Putin’s most prominent foe, anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny.
News reports and social media postings said protests had attracted hundreds or more in at least 10 cities in the Far East and Siberia.