Corruption protests held across Russia, Putin opponent arrested

Thousands of Russians on Sunday crowded into Moscow's Pushkin Square for an unsanctioned protest against the Russian government, one of the biggest gathering in a wave of nationwide protests that were the most extensive show of defiance in years.
Anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, who is leading the opposition to President Vladimir Putin, was arrested while walking from a nearby subway station to the demonstration at Moscow's iconic Pushkin Square.

Navalny and his Foundation for Fighting Corruption had called for the protests, which attracted thousands in most sizeable Russian cities, from the Far East port of Vladivostok to the European heartland including St Petersburg.

 

The protests were the largest coordinated outpourings of dissatisfaction in Russia since the massive 2011-12 demonstrations that followed a fraud-tainted parliamentary election.

About 200 people were arrested by Moscow police as cited by State news agency Tass.

The protests also included gatherings in places far from cosmopolitan centres, such as Siberia's Chita and Barnaul.

The protests focused on reports by Navalny's group claiming that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has amassed a collection of mansions, yachts and vineyards.