Russia detains opposition protesters at rallies

Russian police detained several opposition protesters Saturday in central Moscow as they tried to hold two unsanctioned demonstrations against the jailing of political and other activists.
Police detained two activists at a rally on a central square attended by opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Udaltsov. They also detained around 20 others at a picket against the jailing of environmental activists.
Liberal politician Nemtsov along with far-left activist Udaltsov of the Left Front movement spoke at a protest on Pushkin Square calling for the release of political prisoners.
The organisers said the event did not need official sanction because it was not a rally but a meeting with a parliamentary deputy, Gennady Gudkov of the opposition A Just Russia party.
But police said they detained two people at the event, which they estimated had a turnout of more than 200, after they unfurled protest banners.
The crowd carried white ribbons, the symbol of the opposition movement, and shouted slogans such as “Russia without Putin” and “Time to change the authorities!”
The rally voiced support for businessman Alexei Kozlov, who was sentenced to five years for fraud last week in a controversial case taken up by the opposition after his opposition journalist wife campaigned for his release.
It also brought up the case of anti-Kremlin punk group Pussy Riot, three of whose members are in pre-trial detention and could be jailed for up to seven years for trying to perform in a church.
Activists announced a plan to hold a protest on Sunday afternoon outside the offices of the NTV television channel, which aired a documentary claiming the opposition bribed people to attend mass rallies against Putin.
Some in the crowd shouted “Shame on NTV!”
Organisers had planned to campaign for the release of Udaltsov, who on Thursday was sentenced to 10 days in jail for defying police at an earlier rally.
But Udaltsov unexpectedly had his punishment reduced to a 1,000 ruble ($30) fine late Friday and was able to attend the rally.
He was detained after a March 10 protest against Vladimir Putin’s reelection to a third term as president with over 63 percent of the vote, following months of mass rallies by the opposition.
Udaltsov has been sentenced earlier to up to 15 days in prison and was hospitalised several times last year after refusing food while in jail. He announced another hunger strike after his latest detention.
Police said they detained more than 20 people at a separate unsanctioned rally earlier Saturday on a square next to the Kremlin. It was called to protest against the detention of environmental activists.