The Associated Press reports:
Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin’s most prominent foe.
Police seized Navalny by the arms and legs and carried the thrashing activist from Moscow’s Pushkin Square, where thousands were gathered for an unauthorized protest. Demonstrations under the slogan “He is not our czar” took place throughout the country, from Yakutsk in the far northeast to St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad on the fringes of Europe.
UPDATE — Over 1,000 protesters detained during anti-Putin rallies across Russia, monitor says https://t.co/fvF1IjNn6e pic.twitter.com/lTL2pa3qXb
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) May 5, 2018
Thousands take part in anti-Putin protests across Russia, 350 arrested https://t.co/qSXj1bgnkl pic.twitter.com/HiP2rzqQ1Y
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) May 5, 2018
Large column of thousands of mainly young protestors marching up Nevsky prospect in St Petersburg- main chants are ‘Down with the Tsar’ and ‘Putin is a thief’ —- two days ahead of Presidential inauguration #Russia #Navalny pic.twitter.com/8Nya1HP5zO
— Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) May 5, 2018