Russia police on Friday raided one of the offices of main opposition leader Alexei Navalny as critics accuse Putin government of increasing efforts to stiffle dissent.&nbsp;

Alexander Golovach, a lawyer working for Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK), shared a video on social media of cops arriving at their offices in southern Moscow.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-britain-canada-accuse-russia-of-hacking-covid-19-vaccine-research-313873">US, Britain, Canada accuse Russia of hacking Covid-19 vaccine research</a>

Navalny said he had been banned from leaving Moscow due to a new criminal case registered against him.&nbsp;

He added the ban was imposed on him to prevent his campaigning across the country ahead of the regional polls in September.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fact-check-has-russia-really-found-coronavirus-vaccine-313073">Fact-check: Has Russia really found coronavirus vaccine?</a>

The 44-year-old said he was being interrogated as part of a new investigation for suspected slander over comments he made on social media.&nbsp;

The Investigative Committee, which probes important cases, in June suspected Navalny of defaming a World War II veteran.&nbsp;

Navalny's offices have been constantly raided by Russian enforcement agencies and several criminal probes were made against him.&nbsp;

Recently, Kremlin critics slammed the Russian government of ramping up its efforts to bury critcism after President Vladimir Putin won a mandate to amend Constitution that will open the door for him to stay im power until 2036.

This week Moscow police detained about 150 people who participate in the city centre march against the constitutional amendments.

(With AFP inputs) 
&nbsp;

Russia police on Friday raided one of the offices of main opposition leader Alexei Navalny as critics accuse Putin government of increasing efforts to stiffle dissent.

Russia police on Friday raided one of the offices of main opposition leader Alexei Navalny as critics accuse Putin government of increasing efforts to stiffle dissent. Alexander Golovach, a lawyer working for Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK), shared a video on social media of cops arriving at their offices in southern Moscow. Also read | US, Britain, Canada accuse Russia of hacking Covid-19 vaccine research Navalny said he had been banned from leaving Moscow due to a new criminal case registered against him. He added the ban was imposed on him to prevent his campaigning across the country ahead of the regional polls in September. Also read | Fact-check: Has Russia really found coronavirus vaccine? The 44-year-old said he was being interrogated as part of a new investigation for suspected slander over comments he made on social media. The Investigative Committee, which probes important cases, in June suspected Navalny of defaming a World War II veteran. Navalny's offices have been constantly raided by Russian enforcement agencies and several criminal probes were made against him. Recently, Kremlin critics slammed the Russian government of ramping up its efforts to bury critcism after President Vladimir Putin won a mandate to amend Constitution that will open the door for him to stay im power until 2036. This week Moscow police detained about 150 people who participate in the city centre march against the constitutional amendments. (With AFP inputs)

Russia: Police raid prominent opposition leader's office

Russian President Vladimir Putin's opponents agree a nationwide vote next month that could extend his rule is a sham, but are split over whether to campaign for a "No" vote or call for a boycott, according to Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's opponents agree a nationwide vote next month that could extend his rule is a sham, but are split over whether to campaign for a "No" vote or call for a boycott, according to Reuters. In the July 1 vote, Russians will vote to approve or reject constitutional reforms including a change that would allow Putin to serve two more six-year terms, if re-elected, instead of stepping down in 2024. Putin's approval rating, though still high at 59%, has slipped to its lowest since 1999, the Levada pollster says, and the coronavirus pandemic poses one of the biggest challenges of his more than 20-year rule, according to Reuters. Also read: WION Edit: Vladimir Putin may remain President for life Even so, Putin's opponents believe the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Some, such as politician Alexei Navalny and the liberal opposition Yabloko party, have urged supporters not to vote. "Legitimising this 'fete for Putin' by increasing turnout is just helping the Kremlin," said Lyubov Sobol, a Navalny ally. Others, such as the Communist party, which usually backs the Kremlin on big decisions, have urged supporters to vote against. Also read: Explained: How Vladimir Putin could stay Russian President for two more terms The Kremlin says constitutional changes are needed to strengthen the role of parliament and improve social policy and public administration, and that polls show the changes have wide support. Critics say the reforms amount to a constitutional coup. "There's no opportunity to uncover falsifications. All that remains is a circus with blow-up tents," Navalny said. Election officials deny such accusations, saying the vote will be free and fair. (With inputs from Reuters)

Putin's opponents divided over Russian vote that could extend his rule

Russian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/vladimir-putin-a-brief-profile-of-the-russian-president-728">Vladimir Putin</a> on Monday removed the powerful Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika and nominated a replacement, the Kremlin said.

Chaika, 68, who has served as the country's top prosecutor since 2006, "has been relieved of his position due to a transfer to another position," the Kremlin said in a statement, without providing further details.

His successor is expected to be Igor Krasnov, 43, currently deputy head of the Investigative Committee, a separate state agency that probes major crimes.

The Investigative Committee has repeatedly clashed with the Prosecutor-General's Office.&nbsp;

Putin on Monday submitted Krasnov's candidacy for consideration by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council,&nbsp;the Kremlin said.

His candidacy is expected to be approved by lawmakers.

Chaika served as justice minister between 1999 and 2006.

In 2015, the anti-corruption foundation of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused Chaika's two sons of illegally amassing large fortunes with the help of officials under their father's command.

Chaika dismissed the accusations.

Last week Putin proposed re-drafting the 1993 constitution, unleashing political upheaval in Russia and triggering the resignation of the government of his loyal lieutenant Dmitry Medvedev.&nbsp;

Medvedev has been replaced by former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin who is expected to propose a new government make-up this week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday removed the powerful Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika and nominated a replacement, the Kremlin said. Chaika, 68, who has served as the country's top prosecutor since 2006, "has been relieved of his position due to a transfer to another position," the Kremlin said in a statement, without providing further details.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday removed the powerful Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika and nominated a replacement, the Kremlin said. Chaika, 68, who has served as the country's top prosecutor since 2006, "has been relieved of his position due to a transfer to another position," the Kremlin said in a statement, without providing further details. His successor is expected to be Igor Krasnov, 43, currently deputy head of the Investigative Committee, a separate state agency that probes major crimes. The Investigative Committee has repeatedly clashed with the Prosecutor-General's Office. Putin on Monday submitted Krasnov's candidacy for consideration by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, the Kremlin said. His candidacy is expected to be approved by lawmakers. Chaika served as justice minister between 1999 and 2006. In 2015, the anti-corruption foundation of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused Chaika's two sons of illegally amassing large fortunes with the help of officials under their father's command. Chaika dismissed the accusations. Last week Putin proposed re-drafting the 1993 constitution, unleashing political upheaval in Russia and triggering the resignation of the government of his loyal lieutenant Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev has been replaced by former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin who is expected to propose a new government make-up this week.

Vladimir Putin replaces powerful top prosecutor

More than a thousand opposition activists of various stripes marched in central Moscow on Sunday after President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-rejects-idea-of-soviet-style-lifelong-leaders-for-russia-while-addressing-war-veterans-275230">Vladimir Putin</a> proposed re-drafting the constitution, unleashing political upheaval.

Protesters mostly young anti-fascist activists chanted "Revolution" and "No to dictatorship" and some carried copies of the constitution.

The annual sanctioned march was called to commemorate the memory of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova who were gunned down in Moscow by ultra-nationalists in 2009.

A number of independent local deputies including Yulia Galyamin and opposition-minded Russians joined the march, carrying copies of the constitution and chanting "Putin leave!".&nbsp;

Several people including a protester who carried a placard urging Putin to quit power were detained by police.

More than 1,400 people took part in the march, said the White Counter group which monitors political protests.

The march took place after Putin stunned the nation on Wednesday proposing sweeping amendments to the constitution, the first major changes to the country's basic law since it was adopted under Boris Yeltsin in 1993.&nbsp;

The move triggered the resignation of his government.

Many observers have said Putin's proposals are designed to ensure his grip on power after he leaves the Kremlin and his critics have accused him of orchestrating a "constitutional coup".

Sunday's turnout paled in comparison to the protests of last summer when tens of thousands took to the streets of Moscow to protest against the exclusion of opposition candidates from local elections, leading to wide-scale arrests and long jail terms for a number of demonstrators.

Local deputy Galyamina said it was important to protest against Putin's attempts to cling to power and change the constitution, calling them a "state coup."

Writing on Facebook, she said it was just the "beginning of a civil campaign" of resistance.

But Russia's top opposition leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-authorities-raid-navalnys-office-270458">Alexei Navalny</a>&nbsp;said on Friday he did not support rallies in "defence of the cnstitution".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Что касается разнообразных предлагаемых акций "в защиту Конституции". 
Конституция РФ - омерзительна. В ней заложен механизм узурпации власти. По этой конституции у нас всё отняли - от выборов до пенсий - и дальше хотят отнимать. 
Не надо её защищать.
— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) <a href="https://twitter.com/navalny/status/1218144227894259718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"The Russian constitution is abominable," he said on Twitter, adding it allowed authorities to usurp power.&nbsp;"No need to protect it."

Observers have said Putin's proposals have caught Kremlin critics off guard and managed to drive a new wedge between members of the Russian opposition.

More than a thousand opposition activists of various stripes marched in central Moscow on Sunday after President Vladimir Putin proposed re-drafting the constitution, unleashing political upheaval.

More than a thousand opposition activists of various stripes marched in central Moscow on Sunday after President Vladimir Putin proposed re-drafting the constitution, unleashing political upheaval. Protesters mostly young anti-fascist activists chanted "Revolution" and "No to dictatorship" and some carried copies of the constitution. The annual sanctioned march was called to commemorate the memory of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova who were gunned down in Moscow by ultra-nationalists in 2009. A number of independent local deputies including Yulia Galyamin and opposition-minded Russians joined the march, carrying copies of the constitution and chanting "Putin leave!". Several people including a protester who carried a placard urging Putin to quit power were detained by police. More than 1,400 people took part in the march, said the White Counter group which monitors political protests. The march took place after Putin stunned the nation on Wednesday proposing sweeping amendments to the constitution, the first major changes to the country's basic law since it was adopted under Boris Yeltsin in 1993. The move triggered the resignation of his government. Many observers have said Putin's proposals are designed to ensure his grip on power after he leaves the Kremlin and his critics have accused him of orchestrating a "constitutional coup". Sunday's turnout paled in comparison to the protests of last summer when tens of thousands took to the streets of Moscow to protest against the exclusion of opposition candidates from local elections, leading to wide-scale arrests and long jail terms for a number of demonstrators. Local deputy Galyamina said it was important to protest against Putin's attempts to cling to power and change the constitution, calling them a "state coup." Writing on Facebook, she said it was just the "beginning of a civil campaign" of resistance. But Russia's top opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on Friday he did not support rallies in "defence of the cnstitution". Что касается разнообразных предлагаемых акций "в защиту Конституции". Конституция РФ - омерзительна. В ней заложен механизм узурпации власти. По этой конституции у нас всё отняли - от выборов до пенсий - и дальше хотят отнимать. Не надо её защищать. — Alexey Navalny (@navalny) January 17, 2020 × "The Russian constitution is abominable," he said on Twitter, adding it allowed authorities to usurp power. "No need to protect it." Observers have said Putin's proposals have caught Kremlin critics off guard and managed to drive a new wedge between members of the Russian opposition.

Russia: Activists take aim at Vladimir Putin in march against repression

Russian politician Alexei Navalny was dragged by police on Thursday during a raid on his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) headquarters in Moscow #WION #Alexei Navalny #Russia

Russian police raid opposition leader Alexei Navalny's office

Russian opposition leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-launches-probe-against-kremlin-critic-alexei-navalnys-anti-graft-group-240459">Alexei Navalny's</a> spokesman said he is free after reporting earlier that he was detained as&nbsp;authorities conducted searches during a raid in his headquarters of the anti-corruption foundation in Moscow.

Yarmysh had said on Twitter that Navalny was "forcibly detained and led away", adding, "he did not put up resistance".

Navalny's detention came a day after he said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ruslan-forcibly-conscripted-sent-to-arctic-base-russian-opposition-leader-navalny-270300">forcible military conscription</a> of his key aide Ruslan Shaveddinov to a remote base in the Arctic amounted to kidnapping and illegal imprisonment.

CCTV footage showed police using power tools to pass through the front door. A group of men, some wearing masks could be seen searching the office before one of them covered the CCTV.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-police-raid-opposition-leader-alexei-navalnys-office-270461/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Navalny has called the move part of a coordinated and trumped-up campaign to stifle the Opposition's activities. Navalny's foundation specialises in publishing exposes on corruption by state officials and is the subject of a criminal investigation into alleged money laundering.

The money laundering case was opened in August after Navalny called for protests in Moscow over exclusion of Opposition candidates from local elections.

In October, the justice ministry had formally labelled Navalny's anti-corruption group a "foreign agent" meaning that the group could be subject to spot checks and face bureaucratic scrutiny.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's spokesman said he is free after reporting earlier that he was detained as authorities conducted searches during a raid in his headquarters of the anti-corruption foundation in Moscow.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's spokesman said he is free after reporting earlier that he was detained as authorities conducted searches during a raid in his headquarters of the anti-corruption foundation in Moscow. Yarmysh had said on Twitter that Navalny was "forcibly detained and led away", adding, "he did not put up resistance". Navalny's detention came a day after he said that the forcible military conscription of his key aide Ruslan Shaveddinov to a remote base in the Arctic amounted to kidnapping and illegal imprisonment. CCTV footage showed police using power tools to pass through the front door. A group of men, some wearing masks could be seen searching the office before one of them covered the CCTV. Watch Video: Navalny has called the move part of a coordinated and trumped-up campaign to stifle the Opposition's activities. Navalny's foundation specialises in publishing exposes on corruption by state officials and is the subject of a criminal investigation into alleged money laundering. The money laundering case was opened in August after Navalny called for protests in Moscow over exclusion of Opposition candidates from local elections. In October, the justice ministry had formally labelled Navalny's anti-corruption group a "foreign agent" meaning that the group could be subject to spot checks and face bureaucratic scrutiny.

Russian authorities raid opposition leader Navalny's office

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has hit out at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-opens-investigation-into-space-center-fraud-after-putin-rebuke-263614">President Vladimir Putin</a> over an alleged forcible military conscription of one of his allies to a remote airbase in the Arctic.

Navalny supporters said the incident amounted to "kidnapping".

Navalny said his key aide Ruslan Shaveddinov was detained by police at his Moscow flat and went missing only to resurface in Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

Shaveddinov phone SIM was disabled, Navalny informed.

The opposition leader said the activist&nbsp;who had earlier tried to appeal his conscription on medical grounds&nbsp;managed to make a phone call using someone else's phone.

The opposition has accused the Putin government of Soviet-style political suppression in which detainees were sent to a remote area. It said that Ruslan has been sent to a base where only professional soldiers serve.

Shaveddinov lawyer Arkady Chaplygin said that nobody does military service by conscription at Novaya Zemlya.&nbsp;

"People who serve there are professional soldiers. Military activity in Belushya Guba is mostly about some scientific military studies. There is no place for a conscript there. Effectively Ruslan was sent to a labour camp in exile to serve his time," Chaplygin said.

Ivan Zhdanov, Russian opposition activist said: "We fully understand that Ruslan's kidnapping is a part of the strategy aimed to pressure the Anti-Corruption Foundation.

"It also includes freezing accounts, personal court cases against opposition activists following the summer protests, constant searches in the offices of Alexei Navalny and across Russia," Zhdanov added.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has hit out at President Vladimir Putin over an alleged forcible military conscription of one of his allies to a remote airbase in the Arctic.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has hit out at President Vladimir Putin over an alleged forcible military conscription of one of his allies to a remote airbase in the Arctic. Navalny supporters said the incident amounted to "kidnapping". Navalny said his key aide Ruslan Shaveddinov was detained by police at his Moscow flat and went missing only to resurface in Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Shaveddinov phone SIM was disabled, Navalny informed. The opposition leader said the activist who had earlier tried to appeal his conscription on medical grounds managed to make a phone call using someone else's phone. The opposition has accused the Putin government of Soviet-style political suppression in which detainees were sent to a remote area. It said that Ruslan has been sent to a base where only professional soldiers serve. Shaveddinov lawyer Arkady Chaplygin said that nobody does military service by conscription at Novaya Zemlya. "People who serve there are professional soldiers. Military activity in Belushya Guba is mostly about some scientific military studies. There is no place for a conscript there. Effectively Ruslan was sent to a labour camp in exile to serve his time," Chaplygin said. Ivan Zhdanov, Russian opposition activist said: "We fully understand that Ruslan's kidnapping is a part of the strategy aimed to pressure the Anti-Corruption Foundation. "It also includes freezing accounts, personal court cases against opposition activists following the summer protests, constant searches in the offices of Alexei Navalny and across Russia," Zhdanov added.

Ruslan forcibly conscripted, sent to Arctic base: Russian opposition leader Navalny

Russian politician Alexei Navalny was dragged by police on December 26 during a raid on his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) headquarters in Moscow. "Alexei was forcibly detained and taken away. He did not resist. Lawyers are still at the FBK, and there's a search underway," Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, wrote on Twitter #FinePrint #Alexei #Russia #Netanyahu # RussianPolitician

FinePrint: Russian police raid opposition leader Alexei Navalny's office

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said on December 25 that the forcible military conscription of one of his allies to a remote air base in the Arctic amounted to kidnapping and illegal imprisonment. #WION #Russia

Russian opposition leader's aide sent to Arctic

Russia's Justice Ministry on Wednesday formally labeled opposition leader Alexei Navalny's&nbsp;anti-corruption&nbsp;group&nbsp;a "foreign agent", a move the&nbsp;Kremlin's critics said was part of a coordinated government attack on the&nbsp;group.

Navalny and his allies led <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moscow-set-for-fresh-protests-after-month-of-rallies-243543">political protests this summer</a> over a local election in Moscow that grew into the biggest sustained protest movement in the&nbsp;Russian capital in years, peaking at around 60,000 people before appearing to lose steam.

Civil society&nbsp;groups designated as foreign agents, a term that carries a negative Soviet-era connotation, can be subjected to spot checks and face bureaucratic scrutiny.

Russian legislation requires foreign agent&nbsp;groups to submit regular reports on their sources of funding, on their objectives, on how they spend their money, and who their managers are.

On Wednesday, the justice ministry said Navalny's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-launches-probe-against-kremlin-critic-alexei-navalnys-anti-graft-group-240459">FBK&nbsp;anti-corruption&nbsp;foundation </a>was receiving foreign funding and that it had been formally labelled a foreign agent under the 2012 law.

Ivan Zhdanov, FBK's director, denied the&nbsp;group&nbsp;was receiving or had ever received foreign financing.

"The inclusion on these lists they thought up themselves is just the latest attempt to stifle FBK," he wrote on Twitter.

The foreign agents law was passed in 2012 following a series of mass protests over allegations of election fraud and has been criticised by Western governments.

It was seen as an attempt by Moscow to insulate itself from a wave of popular revolutions in eastern Europe and the Middle East. Moscow said they were fomented by Western governments using civil society&nbsp;groups as proxies.

In this summer's protests, police detained more than 2,000 people at rallies that Moscow authorities said were illegal, and courts have handed jail terms to a handful of protesters for charges such as assaulting the police that the opposition denies.

Moscow police and several state-run and other companies have filed 11 lawsuits against Navalny and his allies for damages caused by the protests totalling $375,000, according to Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh.

The opposition denies causing any damage.

Russia's Justice Ministry on Wednesday formally labeled opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption group a "foreign agent", a move the Kremlin's critics said was part of a coordinated government attack on the group.

Russia's Justice Ministry on Wednesday formally labeled opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption group a "foreign agent", a move the Kremlin's critics said was part of a coordinated government attack on the group. Navalny and his allies led political protests this summer over a local election in Moscow that grew into the biggest sustained protest movement in the Russian capital in years, peaking at around 60,000 people before appearing to lose steam. Civil society groups designated as foreign agents, a term that carries a negative Soviet-era connotation, can be subjected to spot checks and face bureaucratic scrutiny. Russian legislation requires foreign agent groups to submit regular reports on their sources of funding, on their objectives, on how they spend their money, and who their managers are. On Wednesday, the justice ministry said Navalny's FBK anti-corruption foundation was receiving foreign funding and that it had been formally labelled a foreign agent under the 2012 law. Ivan Zhdanov, FBK's director, denied the group was receiving or had ever received foreign financing. "The inclusion on these lists they thought up themselves is just the latest attempt to stifle FBK," he wrote on Twitter. The foreign agents law was passed in 2012 following a series of mass protests over allegations of election fraud and has been criticised by Western governments. It was seen as an attempt by Moscow to insulate itself from a wave of popular revolutions in eastern Europe and the Middle East. Moscow said they were fomented by Western governments using civil society groups as proxies. In this summer's protests, police detained more than 2,000 people at rallies that Moscow authorities said were illegal, and courts have handed jail terms to a handful of protesters for charges such as assaulting the police that the opposition denies. Moscow police and several state-run and other companies have filed 11 lawsuits against Navalny and his allies for damages caused by the protests totalling $375,000, according to Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh. The opposition denies causing any damage.

Russia brands Kremlin critic's anti-corruption group 'foreign agent'

In a court on the outskirts of Moscow, fellow students of Yegor Zhukov started weeping as he delivered a speech via a video link from jail. "I don't know if I'll become free myself," he said, "but Russia definitely will.

In a court on the outskirts of Moscow, fellow students of Yegor Zhukov started weeping as he delivered a speech via a video link from jail. "I don't know if I'll become free myself," he said, "but Russia definitely will." The 21-year-old is among a group of young protesters with bright futures risking criminal convictions and life-changing jail terms as Russia attempts to quell dissent. Zhukov is the most prominent among them thanks to his popular YouTube clips where he criticises President Vladimir Putin's regime and backs the anti-corruption campaign of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. In recent weeks tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Moscow after authorities blocked Navalny's allies from running in next month's election for the city parliament. Police have arrested around 3,000 people at the biggest demonstrations the country has seen in years, but most were released shortly after. However, around 10 remain in pre-trial detention and face up to eight years in jail for participating in what prosecutors call "mass disorder". Several others are facing related charges such as attacking police. Zhukov, who was due to begin fourth-year studies at the prestigious Moscow Higher School of Economics (HSE), saw dozens of HSE students and teachers come out to support him at his recent appeal hearing, but the judge ruled he must stay in prison pending trial. "Many students feel that they could easily be in his place," said HSE postgraduate Armen Aramyan, 22, condemning what he called "lawless actions by this repressive machine." Anastasia Solovyova, a 20-year-old student, said she was still emotional after the judge's ruling. "I'm very upset right now," she said, adding that she was one of those who cried during the hearing. First-year law student Boris Karpyshev said, "You fear a lot for your future." From student to 'hero' The "mass disorder" charge Zhukov faces technically only applies to extreme acts such as setting property on fire and using weapons and explosives. None of this happened at the protest where he was arrested in late July, or at any other of the rallies, more of which are planned in coming weeks. As well as the courts, Russian pro-Kremlin media has been swift to accuse Zhukov, reporting that he was the "coordinator" of a mass protest. Private Ren-TV, known for negative coverage of the opposition, aired video it said showed him "deftly directing" the crowd. The case against him is solely based on these gestures, according to reports. More than 300 teaching staff at the HSE signed an open letter urging the court to close the case against Zhukov and the others. HSE, founded in 1992, is seen as one of Russia's most progressive schools and has said it will not expel him. But philosophy professor Kirill Martynov has predicted "quite a harsh collision of views" when the term starts in September as a group of teachers have urged the university to stay "outside politics". Zhukov was a "popular, independent student" but his behaviour after his arrest has made him a "hero" to many, Martynov said. 'He's patriotic' By contrast another of the detained students, Daniil Konon, who is studying engineering at Moscow's prestigious Bauman Institute, was not known to have strong political views. Konon is a former cadet who has taken part in military parades on Red Square. He attended the protest last month after collecting signatures in support of an opposition candidate as a summer job, his lawyer said. When election authorities rejected prominent opposition candidates' applications to stand, they cited faked signatures of support in several cases. Ren-TV showed him gesturing at protesters and he told the channel he was showing them which way to go. Fellow Bauman engineering student Daniil Khryashov, 21, said: "He's patriotic... he wasn't even against the current authorities." Konon went to the rally because he was upset that the authorities rejected the genuine signatures he had collected, Khryashov said. His mother Natalya Konon, who runs a dog shelter, told he "wasn't involved in politics" and hadn't gone to previous rallies. "He wasn't part of the opposition," she insisted. Also facing a criminal charge is Aidar Gubaidulin, who recently graduated from Moscow Physical and Technical University, a hot spot for top programmers. Rectors at several other leading Moscow universities have warned students against breaking the law at protests on pain of expulsion. Taking the rap The detentions have prompted some Russian celebrities to speak out in support, including popular rapper Oxxxymiron, whose real name is Miron Fyodorov. Not previously known for his political views, the 34-year-old wore a T-shirt with Zhukov's face at an August rally and attended court to offer him bail of two million rubles ($30,000). "Yegor Zhukov is clearly a principled, idealistic guy that didn't actually break any law," he told AFP. "If he's being accused of being the organiser of a riot but the riot didn't actually take place, that's clearly absurd." Explaining his decision to speak out now, the rapper said: "Everyone has their personal boiling point."

Tears, fear as Russian students jailed over opposition protests

Moscow was set for fresh protests Saturday, the latest in a wave of demonstrations that has seen tens of thousands take to the streets after opposition figures were banned from local elections a month ago.

Moscow was set for fresh protests Saturday, the latest in a wave of demonstrations that has seen tens of thousands take to the streets after opposition figures were banned from local elections a month ago. The rallies, which have taken place every Saturday since the ruling, are the biggest since mass protests broke out in 2011 against President Vladimir Putin's return to the Kremlin after a term as prime minister. Police have come down hard on the demonstrations, which have tapped into wider anger over declining living standards and a stalling economy. Some 3,000 people have been arrested for taking part and prominent members of the opposition, including top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, remain behind bars. At previous events police have used batons on protesters and grabbed people from the streets indiscriminately. Organisers of Saturday's event are planning single-person pickets, in which one person at a time holds a protest sign, as these do not technically need approval from authorities to go ahead. An approved Communist Party rally for free elections is set to be held earlier in the day. Prosecutors have launched criminal cases against about a dozen protesters for "mass unrest", with potential prison sentences of up to eight years. They stand accused of offences including throwing plastic water bottles at officers. The Moscow city hall elections set for September 8 were, until last month, a relatively minor event on Russia's political calendar. But the issue blew up after election authorities refused to register various opposition candidates over alleged violations including faking the signatures needed to qualify. Local polls are a rare opportunity for dissenting voices to participate in political life as anti-Kremlin parties have been squeezed out of parliament over Putin's two decades in power. Police violence The Kremlin commented on the month-long protests for the first time this week, seeking to play down the significance of the rallies. "We do not agree with those who call what is happening a political crisis," said Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who defended an "absolutely justified" police response. Video of a policeman punching a woman in the stomach as she was being detained after a sanctioned protest last week went viral. The interior ministry said it was opening an investigation. Russian political scientist Ekaterina Shulmann said the cases against participants were "making people angry -- they are broadly perceived as unjust and disproportionately cruel". While they have a "terrorising effect in the sense that people may be afraid to get out on the streets, at the same time they strengthen the protest mood because they are so blatantly unfair," she told. Independent analyst Masha Lipman said the protests were now more "emotional" than political. "The protest movement is politically weak, there's no clear goal," she said, adding that many were "outraged" by the repressive actions of authorities. Popular figures such as rapper Oxxxymiron and YouTube star Yury Dud have come out in support of the demonstrations, urging their fans and followers to go to sanctioned rallies. Moscow has accused foreign governments and media of backing the protests, and next week Russian lawmakers will hold a special session to discuss the alleged "meddling". Authorities have meanwhile upped the pressure on the opposition, focusing on Navalny's anti-corruption foundation which publishes investigations of officials close to Putin. Investigators have raided the foundation's office as part of a probe into alleged money laundering and a court froze the organisation's accounts.

Moscow set for fresh protests after month of rallies

Russian opposition activists staged a string of pickets in central Moscow on Saturday to call for free elections and for charges against protesters detained at recent rallies to be dropped.

Moscow has been rocked by<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../russian-opposition-plans-major-moscow-protest -after-crackdown-241936"> weekly protests</a> for more than a month since the authorities barred opposition candidates from running in an election for the city's legislature in September.

Police have briefly detained more than 2,000 protesters in recent weeks, launched criminal cases against some dozen people for mass disorder and used force to disperse what they said were illegal protests.

In contrast, Saturday's solo pickets, spread across three locations in Moscow, were peaceful and opposition supporters scarce.

The recent opposition demonstrations have turned into the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/political-tensions-escalate-in-russia-239479">biggest sustained protest movement in Russia</a> since 2011-2013 when protesters took to the streets against perceived electoral fraud.

Earlier on Saturday, some 4,000 people attended a Communist rally in Moscow that had been authorised by the authorities to call for "clear and honest elections" in Moscow, police said.

Russian opposition activists staged a string of pickets in central Moscow on Saturday to call for free elections and for charges against protesters detained at recent rallies to be dropped.

Russian opposition activists staged a string of pickets in central Moscow on Saturday to call for free elections and for charges against protesters detained at recent rallies to be dropped. Moscow has been rocked by weekly protests for more than a month since the authorities barred opposition candidates from running in an election for the city's legislature in September. Police have briefly detained more than 2,000 protesters in recent weeks, launched criminal cases against some dozen people for mass disorder and used force to disperse what they said were illegal protests. In contrast, Saturday's solo pickets, spread across three locations in Moscow, were peaceful and opposition supporters scarce. The recent opposition demonstrations have turned into the biggest sustained protest movement in Russia since 2011-2013 when protesters took to the streets against perceived electoral fraud. Earlier on Saturday, some 4,000 people attended a Communist rally in Moscow that had been authorised by the authorities to call for "clear and honest elections" in Moscow, police said.

Russian opposition activists picket for free elections

Russian authorities on Thursday froze a slew of bank accounts linked to jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny as part of a money-laundering investigation that his allies say is a trumped-up attempt to cripple his political movement.

The move comes ahead of a series of planned nationwide demonstrations on Saturday being organised by Navalny's allies to protest against the exclusion of opposition candidates from a Moscow election next month.

Similar protests in the Russian capital in recent weeks have led to mass arrests and prompted a wider crackdown on anti-Kremlin activists who have had their homes searched and been handed short jail terms or listed as suspects in a more serious investigation into what the authorities call mass unrest.

Russian investigators said in a statement on Thursday that they had frozen the bank accounts of Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, those of another organisation, and those of more than 100 linked individuals and legal entities.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, said on Twitter that investigators had also frozen the bank accounts of Navalny's campaign headquarters across the country.

Masked police officers searched the Moscow offices of Navalny's anti-corruption foundation as well as the homes of several activists on Thursday taking away computers and documents.

Investigators said they had also summoned some of the foundation's employees for questioning.

The crackdown came after investigators opened a criminal investigation on Saturday into the alleged laundering of 1 billion roubles ($15.31 million) by Navalny's foundation.

Navalny and his allies say the foundation, which has published a slew of embarrassing investigations into government officials, is transparently financed from public donations.

Navalny is currently in jail for violating Russia's tough protest laws after calling for people to demonstrate in central Moscow over the exclusion of opposition candidates from a local election next month.

Russian authorities on Thursday froze a slew of bank accounts linked to jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny as part of a money-laundering investigation that his allies say is a trumped-up attempt to cripple his political movement.

Russian authorities on Thursday froze a slew of bank accounts linked to jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny as part of a money-laundering investigation that his allies say is a trumped-up attempt to cripple his political movement. The move comes ahead of a series of planned nationwide demonstrations on Saturday being organised by Navalny's allies to protest against the exclusion of opposition candidates from a Moscow election next month. Similar protests in the Russian capital in recent weeks have led to mass arrests and prompted a wider crackdown on anti-Kremlin activists who have had their homes searched and been handed short jail terms or listed as suspects in a more serious investigation into what the authorities call mass unrest. Russian investigators said in a statement on Thursday that they had frozen the bank accounts of Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, those of another organisation, and those of more than 100 linked individuals and legal entities. Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, said on Twitter that investigators had also frozen the bank accounts of Navalny's campaign headquarters across the country. Masked police officers searched the Moscow offices of Navalny's anti-corruption foundation as well as the homes of several activists on Thursday taking away computers and documents. Investigators said they had also summoned some of the foundation's employees for questioning. The crackdown came after investigators opened a criminal investigation on Saturday into the alleged laundering of 1 billion roubles ($15.31 million) by Navalny's foundation. Navalny and his allies say the foundation, which has published a slew of embarrassing investigations into government officials, is transparently financed from public donations. Navalny is currently in jail for violating Russia's tough protest laws after calling for people to demonstrate in central Moscow over the exclusion of opposition candidates from a local election next month.

Russia freezes bank accounts linked to opposition politician Alexei Navalny

A look at two weeks of mass protests and crackdown in Moscow

Russian police forcibly detained nearly 700 people attending a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-police-detain-prominent-opposition-activist-before-protest-240446">protest in Moscow</a> on Saturday to demand free elections, including prominent activist Lyubov Sobol, after authorities warned the demonstration was illegal.

Police removed Sobol from a taxi and bundled her into a van minutes before the start of what anti-Kremlin activists described as a peaceful walk to protest against the exclusion of their candidates from an election next month.

Soon after the start of the protest, a Reuters reporter saw several hundred people milling around at one of the designated protest points in central Moscow. Minutes later, a line of riot police began to squeeze people out of the area.

OVD-Info, an independent monitoring group, said police had detained 685 people, in some cases beating them with truncheons as they lay on the floor. Reuters reporters witnessed dozens of arrests. In one case police carried off a man as he clung upside down to his bicycle.

Police said they had detained 600 and said 1,500 had attended the protest, though footage of demonstrations which flared in different parts of Moscow suggested many more had taken part.

Saturday's protest was smaller than one a week earlier but underlined the determination of some Kremlin critics -- especially younger people -- to keep pressing to open up Russia's tightly-choreographed political system.

The focus of protesters' anger is a prohibition on a number of opposition-minded candidates, some of whom are allies of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-launches-probe-against-kremlin-critic-alexei-navalnys-anti-graft-group-240459">jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny</a>, from taking part in a September election for Moscow's city legislature.

That vote, though local, is seen as a dry run for a national parliamentary election in 2021.

Authorities say opposition candidates failed to collect enough genuine signatures to register. The excluded candidates say that is a lie and insist on taking part in a contest they believe they could win.

"They (the authorities) are wiping their feet on us," said Elena, a student attending Saturday's protest.

Another attendee, Yevgeny Snetkov, a 61-year-old engineer, described as brazen the way the authorities had prevented opposition candidates from running. "I had no option left but to protest," he said.

Some protesters chanted "Putin is a thief" as they marched.

International condemnation

Observers said the police presence was one of the biggest at such a protest in nearly a decade. Mobile internet access went down in some areas and police cordoned off swathes of central Moscow to stop people gathering.

At a similar protest a week earlier, police detained more than 1,300 in one of the biggest security operations of recent years that brought wide international condemnation.

Authorities carried out a new round of detentions and home searches before Saturday's protest and opened criminal proceedings for what they term mass civil unrest, an offence which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in jail.

Activists say the Russian constitution allows them to freely protest. But authorities say they need to agree the timing and location of any demonstrations in advance, something that was not done ahead of Saturday's protest.

Opposition activists say the authorities have repeatedly refused to allow protests in central Moscow, leaving them with no choice but to go ahead anyway.

At least eight of Sobol's allies, including Navalny, are in jail for breaking tough protest laws. The ruling United Russia dominates the national parliament and Navalny plus his allies are starved of media air-time.

Russian investigators said on Saturday they had opened a criminal investigation into the alleged laundering of 1 billion roubles ($15.3 million) by an anti-corruption foundation which Navalny set up. Navalny and his allies say the foundation is transparently financed from public donations.

President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin have not commented on the standoff with the opposition, but Moscow prosecutors on Friday warned would-be protesters that Saturday's demonstration had not been approved and its organisers could be brought to account.

At well over 60 percent, Putin's approval rating is still high compared with many other world leaders, but is lower than it used to be due to discontent over years of falling incomes.

Last year the 66-year-old former KGB intelligence officer won a landslide re-election and a new six-year term until 2024.

Russian police forcibly detained nearly 700 people attending a protest in Moscow on Saturday to demand free elections, including prominent activist Lyubov Sobol, after authorities warned the demonstration was illegal.

Russian police forcibly detained nearly 700 people attending a protest in Moscow on Saturday to demand free elections, including prominent activist Lyubov Sobol, after authorities warned the demonstration was illegal. Police removed Sobol from a taxi and bundled her into a van minutes before the start of what anti-Kremlin activists described as a peaceful walk to protest against the exclusion of their candidates from an election next month. Soon after the start of the protest, a Reuters reporter saw several hundred people milling around at one of the designated protest points in central Moscow. Minutes later, a line of riot police began to squeeze people out of the area. OVD-Info, an independent monitoring group, said police had detained 685 people, in some cases beating them with truncheons as they lay on the floor. Reuters reporters witnessed dozens of arrests. In one case police carried off a man as he clung upside down to his bicycle. Police said they had detained 600 and said 1,500 had attended the protest, though footage of demonstrations which flared in different parts of Moscow suggested many more had taken part. Saturday's protest was smaller than one a week earlier but underlined the determination of some Kremlin critics -- especially younger people -- to keep pressing to open up Russia's tightly-choreographed political system. The focus of protesters' anger is a prohibition on a number of opposition-minded candidates, some of whom are allies of jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny, from taking part in a September election for Moscow's city legislature. That vote, though local, is seen as a dry run for a national parliamentary election in 2021. Authorities say opposition candidates failed to collect enough genuine signatures to register. The excluded candidates say that is a lie and insist on taking part in a contest they believe they could win. "They (the authorities) are wiping their feet on us," said Elena, a student attending Saturday's protest. Another attendee, Yevgeny Snetkov, a 61-year-old engineer, described as brazen the way the authorities had prevented opposition candidates from running. "I had no option left but to protest," he said. Some protesters chanted "Putin is a thief" as they marched. International condemnation Observers said the police presence was one of the biggest at such a protest in nearly a decade. Mobile internet access went down in some areas and police cordoned off swathes of central Moscow to stop people gathering. At a similar protest a week earlier, police detained more than 1,300 in one of the biggest security operations of recent years that brought wide international condemnation. Authorities carried out a new round of detentions and home searches before Saturday's protest and opened criminal proceedings for what they term mass civil unrest, an offence which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in jail. Activists say the Russian constitution allows them to freely protest. But authorities say they need to agree the timing and location of any demonstrations in advance, something that was not done ahead of Saturday's protest. Opposition activists say the authorities have repeatedly refused to allow protests in central Moscow, leaving them with no choice but to go ahead anyway. At least eight of Sobol's allies, including Navalny, are in jail for breaking tough protest laws. The ruling United Russia dominates the national parliament and Navalny plus his allies are starved of media air-time. Russian investigators said on Saturday they had opened a criminal investigation into the alleged laundering of 1 billion roubles ($15.3 million) by an anti-corruption foundation which Navalny set up. Navalny and his allies say the foundation is transparently financed from public donations. President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin have not commented on the standoff with the opposition, but Moscow prosecutors on Friday warned would-be protesters that Saturday's demonstration had not been approved and its organisers could be brought to account. At well over 60 percent, Putin's approval rating is still high compared with many other world leaders, but is lower than it used to be due to discontent over years of falling incomes. Last year the 66-year-old former KGB intelligence officer won a landslide re-election and a new six-year term until 2024.

Russian police detain nearly 700 in opposition crackdown in Moscow

Russian investigators on Saturday launched a money-laundering probe against detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, which has worked to expose officials' questionable wealth.

Employees of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption (FBK) "received a large sum of money from third parties which they knew was procured illegally," investigators said, estimating the laundered amount at one billion rubles ($15.3 million).

"Accomplices" of FBK "gave a legal appearance" to the funds by transferring them to bank accounts and ultimately to the accounts of the FBK, investigators said.

FBK has published numerous investigators about top Russian officials, with the most popular video about Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev having been viewed over 31 million times on YouTube.

In pics : <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-look-at-two-weeks-of-mass-protests-and-crackdown-in-moscow-240444">A look at two weeks of mass protests and crackdown in Moscow</a>

The foundation asks supporters to donate money on its website to support its work.

News about the new probe broke just as Russian opposition was attempting a new protest in Moscow to demand fair access to elections, and dozens were detained by the numerous police presence

Russia's top opposition leader Navalny is currently serving 30 days behind bars for violating rules on public gatherings. Last weekend he was hospitalised with symptoms his doctor said looked like poisoning.

Several of his associates, including FBK lawyer <a href="Alexei Navalny">Lyubov Sobol, are also in police custody</a> over protests pertaining to next month's elections in Moscow, which most of the opposition has been barred from participating.

The opposition accuses Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a Vladimir Putin loyalist, of blocking all opposition from attempting to break his monopoly over the Moscow parliament in September polls.

On Thursday, FBK issued a video investigation about Sobyanin's deputy, accusing her of selling prime Moscow property to her family members at rock-bottom prices.

Russian investigators on Saturday launched a money-laundering probe against detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, which has worked to expose officials' questionable wealth.

Russian investigators on Saturday launched a money-laundering probe against detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, which has worked to expose officials' questionable wealth. Employees of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption (FBK) "received a large sum of money from third parties which they knew was procured illegally," investigators said, estimating the laundered amount at one billion rubles ($15.3 million). "Accomplices" of FBK "gave a legal appearance" to the funds by transferring them to bank accounts and ultimately to the accounts of the FBK, investigators said. FBK has published numerous investigators about top Russian officials, with the most popular video about Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev having been viewed over 31 million times on YouTube. In pics : A look at two weeks of mass protests and crackdown in Moscow The foundation asks supporters to donate money on its website to support its work. News about the new probe broke just as Russian opposition was attempting a new protest in Moscow to demand fair access to elections, and dozens were detained by the numerous police presence Russia's top opposition leader Navalny is currently serving 30 days behind bars for violating rules on public gatherings. Last weekend he was hospitalised with symptoms his doctor said looked like poisoning. Several of his associates, including FBK lawyer Lyubov Sobol, are also in police custody over protests pertaining to next month's elections in Moscow, which most of the opposition has been barred from participating. The opposition accuses Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a Vladimir Putin loyalist, of blocking all opposition from attempting to break his monopoly over the Moscow parliament in September polls. On Thursday, FBK issued a video investigation about Sobyanin's deputy, accusing her of selling prime Moscow property to her family members at rock-bottom prices.

Russia launches probe against Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's anti-graft group

Russian investigators on Tuesday launched a probe into "mass unrest", a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison after thousands took to the streets at the weekend to demand fair elections.

Nearly 1,400 people were arrested on Saturday at an unauthorised protest in central Moscow that was broken up by baton-wielding riot police, as anger grows against authorities' refusal to allow prominent opposition candidates to stand for the city parliament.

The crackdown was the largest of its kind since 2012 when tens of thousands of people came out to protest Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency after four years as prime minister.

Federal investigators said their probe would target not just the organisers of the weekend rally but also participants. The investigation will also look into violence against police and other officials, they said in a statement.

The probe is part of a wider move by authorities to quell the protest movement, which comes amid growing public frustration over declining living standards and a fall in Putin's approval ratings.

Opposition leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alexei-navalny-the-lawyer-standing-up-to-vladimir-putin-239518">Alexei Navalny</a> is serving a 30-day jail term for calling on people to attend the weekend demonstration.&nbsp;

On Sunday, the 43-year-old was taken from his prison cell to hospital after what was initially reported as a severe allergic reaction but his lawyer Olga Mikhailova said was a poisoning by an unknown chemical substance.

Navalny's doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva criticised authorities' decision to return him to prison following treatment, and complained on Tuesday she was not allowed to visit him in jail.

A number of other opposition figures, who applied to stand in the September elections but were rejected, have been jailed since the rally.&nbsp;

Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov was on Tuesday sentenced to a month over an earlier unauthorised protest, while would-be candidate Ilya Yashin was jailed for 20 days in two separate sentencings.

The director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, Ivan Zhdanov, was on Monday jailed for 15 days, and independent politician Yulia Galyamina sentenced to 10 days on Tuesday.

'Obliged to use force'

Earlier Tuesday, a senior representative of the Russian prosecutor general's office called for a "severe" response to any further unauthorised rallies.

The opposition has however already called for a new unsanctioned protest on Saturday, and more than 13,000 people have indicated an interest on Facebook.&nbsp;

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a top Putin ally, accused organisers of preparing a "fresh provocation".&nbsp;

In a TV interview, he defended the response of police, who he said were "obliged to use force" during the weekend demonstration.

The West has condemned the actions of the Russian police, who used batons on demonstrators on Saturday. AFP journalists at the scene saw protesters with injuries.

Elections to Moscow's 45-seat legislative body, currently controlled by the ruling party United Russia, are to be held on September 8.

Local polls are a rare opportunity for dissenting voices to participate in political life as anti-Kremlin parties have been squeezed out of parliament over Putin's two decades in power.

Russian investigators on Tuesday launched a probe into "mass unrest", a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison after thousands took to the streets at the weekend to demand fair elections.

Russian investigators on Tuesday launched a probe into "mass unrest", a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison after thousands took to the streets at the weekend to demand fair elections. Nearly 1,400 people were arrested on Saturday at an unauthorised protest in central Moscow that was broken up by baton-wielding riot police, as anger grows against authorities' refusal to allow prominent opposition candidates to stand for the city parliament. The crackdown was the largest of its kind since 2012 when tens of thousands of people came out to protest Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency after four years as prime minister. Federal investigators said their probe would target not just the organisers of the weekend rally but also participants. The investigation will also look into violence against police and other officials, they said in a statement. The probe is part of a wider move by authorities to quell the protest movement, which comes amid growing public frustration over declining living standards and a fall in Putin's approval ratings. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny is serving a 30-day jail term for calling on people to attend the weekend demonstration. On Sunday, the 43-year-old was taken from his prison cell to hospital after what was initially reported as a severe allergic reaction but his lawyer Olga Mikhailova said was a poisoning by an unknown chemical substance. Navalny's doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva criticised authorities' decision to return him to prison following treatment, and complained on Tuesday she was not allowed to visit him in jail. A number of other opposition figures, who applied to stand in the September elections but were rejected, have been jailed since the rally. Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov was on Tuesday sentenced to a month over an earlier unauthorised protest, while would-be candidate Ilya Yashin was jailed for 20 days in two separate sentencings. The director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, Ivan Zhdanov, was on Monday jailed for 15 days, and independent politician Yulia Galyamina sentenced to 10 days on Tuesday. 'Obliged to use force' Earlier Tuesday, a senior representative of the Russian prosecutor general's office called for a "severe" response to any further unauthorised rallies. The opposition has however already called for a new unsanctioned protest on Saturday, and more than 13,000 people have indicated an interest on Facebook. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a top Putin ally, accused organisers of preparing a "fresh provocation". In a TV interview, he defended the response of police, who he said were "obliged to use force" during the weekend demonstration. The West has condemned the actions of the Russian police, who used batons on demonstrators on Saturday. AFP journalists at the scene saw protesters with injuries. Elections to Moscow's 45-seat legislative body, currently controlled by the ruling party United Russia, are to be held on September 8. Local polls are a rare opportunity for dissenting voices to participate in political life as anti-Kremlin parties have been squeezed out of parliament over Putin's two decades in power.

Russia launches criminal probe after mass protest for fair elections

Russia's Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Hospitalised Over the weekend, Russia's Opposition Leader and principal opponent of President Vladimir Putin - Alexei Navalny was hospitalised. One of the doctors said it's an allergic reaction while another doctored suspected poisoning. What's worse? Navalny has been discharged against the wishes of one of the doctors. Palki explains

Gravitas: Was Putin's political rival poisoned?

Russia's jailed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-opposition-leader-navalny-in-satisfactory-condition-hospital-239204">opposition leader Alexei Navalny</a> said Monday he might have been "poisoned" in his prison cell amid a crackdown on anti-Kremlin protesters.

Navalny, who has been in jail since last week for calling an unauthorised rally, released a picture of himself in hospital with his face puffy, especially around the eyes.

His lawyer and personal physician earlier said that Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's top opponent, was exposed to an unidentified toxic substance and that doctors had sent him back to jail despite his condition.

The 43-year-old lawyer was rushed to hospital from jail on Sunday, a day after nearly 1,400 people were arrested at an unauthorised protest -- the largest police crackdown on dissent in recent years.

Writing on his blog, Navalny, who has never suffered from allergies, said he woke up at night because his face, ears and neck burnt.

"I might have been poisoned," he said he thought at the time.&nbsp;

When he woke up Sunday morning his face was swollen and his eyelids "the size of ping pong balls", he said.

The swelling subsided after he was treated with steroids in hospital and he now looks like someone "who has been drinking for a week," he said.

He ruled out any foul play by local police, saying they themselves have been "shocked" by his appearance, but suggested that someone might have entered his cell when he was not there.

Earlier on Monday his lawyer Olga Mikhailova told reporters: "It is indeed poisoning by some unknown chemical substance."

The opposition politician's physician Anastasia Vasilyeva slammed doctors for sending him back to the jail despite needing to continue treatment.

"Alexei has been clearly sent back to the detention centre on orders from above," she said.

Vasilyeva accused the hospital doctors of not wanting to find out what caused Navalny's condition.&nbsp;

She said his health was in danger in prison and warned that his cell could be contaminated.

Vasilyeva, an ophthalmologist, previously treated Navalny after he nearly lost the sight in one eye following an attack in 2017.

- 'Rotten system' -

The Russian opposition leader is serving a 30-day jail sentence for calling a rally after authorities blocked prominent independent candidates from taking part in upcoming Moscow parliament elections in September.

Ahead of the rally, police detained a number of popular opposition politicians who have fought to get on the ballot.

They included the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, Ivan Zhdanov -- who was sentenced to 15 days in jail on Monday -- and prominent opposition politician and another would-be candidate Ilya Yashin who was jailed for 10 days, also Monday.

"I am not afraid of your rotten system, your arrests or your detention centres," Yashin said in court, according to an account that he published on social media.

Despite the crackdown, thousands of protesters -- many in their 20s and early 30s -- turned up on Saturday in central Moscow to demonstrate over the blocking of opposition candidates and to urge the authorities to open up the tightly-controlled system.

Police beat up protesters with batons and indiscriminately arrested people including the elderly and passers-by.&nbsp;

As riot police assaulted the peaceful protesters, Putin dived to the bottom of the Gulf of Finland aboard a submersible.

On social media, Russians seethed with anger over the brutality of police tactics, sharing stories of injuries and detentions.

Liberal Russian media estimated the rally turnout was up to 15,000 people.&nbsp;

While the Kremlin scrambled to contain the fallout, Germany slammed "the disproportionately tough police action" and urged the detained protesters' release.

France expressed concern over the recent developments in Russia, noting the "sudden deterioration" of Navalny's health.

The opposition has called for a new protest on Saturday.

- Activists 'banged up' -&nbsp;

The Bell, a respected Russian-language online publication, said the Kremlin had underestimated Muscovites' anger and readiness to protest.

"Now we'll have to think what to do with all of this," it quoted a Kremlin source as saying.

A person familiar with the Kremlin thinking told the Bell that the most prominent activists would be "banged up", while the rest would be intimidated into no longer protesting.

More than 21,000 people signed a petition calling on Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to resign. 
&nbsp;

Russia's jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Monday he might have been "poisoned" in his prison cell amid a crackdown on anti-Kremlin protesters. Navalny, who has been in jail since last week for calling an unauthorised rally, released a picture of himself in hospital with his face puffy, especially around the eyes.

Russia's jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Monday he might have been "poisoned" in his prison cell amid a crackdown on anti-Kremlin protesters. Navalny, who has been in jail since last week for calling an unauthorised rally, released a picture of himself in hospital with his face puffy, especially around the eyes. His lawyer and personal physician earlier said that Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's top opponent, was exposed to an unidentified toxic substance and that doctors had sent him back to jail despite his condition. The 43-year-old lawyer was rushed to hospital from jail on Sunday, a day after nearly 1,400 people were arrested at an unauthorised protest -- the largest police crackdown on dissent in recent years. Writing on his blog, Navalny, who has never suffered from allergies, said he woke up at night because his face, ears and neck burnt. "I might have been poisoned," he said he thought at the time. When he woke up Sunday morning his face was swollen and his eyelids "the size of ping pong balls", he said. The swelling subsided after he was treated with steroids in hospital and he now looks like someone "who has been drinking for a week," he said. He ruled out any foul play by local police, saying they themselves have been "shocked" by his appearance, but suggested that someone might have entered his cell when he was not there. Earlier on Monday his lawyer Olga Mikhailova told reporters: "It is indeed poisoning by some unknown chemical substance." The opposition politician's physician Anastasia Vasilyeva slammed doctors for sending him back to the jail despite needing to continue treatment. "Alexei has been clearly sent back to the detention centre on orders from above," she said. Vasilyeva accused the hospital doctors of not wanting to find out what caused Navalny's condition. She said his health was in danger in prison and warned that his cell could be contaminated. Vasilyeva, an ophthalmologist, previously treated Navalny after he nearly lost the sight in one eye following an attack in 2017. - 'Rotten system' - The Russian opposition leader is serving a 30-day jail sentence for calling a rally after authorities blocked prominent independent candidates from taking part in upcoming Moscow parliament elections in September. Ahead of the rally, police detained a number of popular opposition politicians who have fought to get on the ballot. They included the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, Ivan Zhdanov -- who was sentenced to 15 days in jail on Monday -- and prominent opposition politician and another would-be candidate Ilya Yashin who was jailed for 10 days, also Monday. "I am not afraid of your rotten system, your arrests or your detention centres," Yashin said in court, according to an account that he published on social media. Despite the crackdown, thousands of protesters -- many in their 20s and early 30s -- turned up on Saturday in central Moscow to demonstrate over the blocking of opposition candidates and to urge the authorities to open up the tightly-controlled system. Police beat up protesters with batons and indiscriminately arrested people including the elderly and passers-by. As riot police assaulted the peaceful protesters, Putin dived to the bottom of the Gulf of Finland aboard a submersible. On social media, Russians seethed with anger over the brutality of police tactics, sharing stories of injuries and detentions. Liberal Russian media estimated the rally turnout was up to 15,000 people. While the Kremlin scrambled to contain the fallout, Germany slammed "the disproportionately tough police action" and urged the detained protesters' release. France expressed concern over the recent developments in Russia, noting the "sudden deterioration" of Navalny's health. The opposition has called for a new protest on Saturday. - Activists 'banged up' - The Bell, a respected Russian-language online publication, said the Kremlin had underestimated Muscovites' anger and readiness to protest. "Now we'll have to think what to do with all of this," it quoted a Kremlin source as saying. A person familiar with the Kremlin thinking told the Bell that the most prominent activists would be "banged up", while the rest would be intimidated into no longer protesting. More than 21,000 people signed a petition calling on Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to resign.

I might have been poisoned: Vladimir Putin's opponent Alexei Navalny 

A charismatic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-hospitalised-for-allergic-reaction-239039">anti-corruption campaigner, Alexei Navalny</a> has been Russia's leading opposition politician for around a decade, determined to challenge Vladimir Putin's grip on power despite frequent prison stays and even damage to his health.

The Yale-educated 43-year-old lawyer has been banned from state television and was barred from challenging Putin in a presidential election last year.

He has often been jailed and physically attacked, but has vowed to press ahead with his campaign to change Russia for the better.

Navalny has won a young fan base through viral videos exposing corruption among the elites and has more than two million followers on Twitter.

He has grabbed attention with his uncompromising rhetoric and coined phrases such as the "party of crooks and thieves" to slam the ruling party United Russia.

In 2011, the anti-corruption blogger led mass protests when tens of thousands took to the streets of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-arrested-at-moscow-protest-after-opposition-crackdown-238830">Moscow</a> to protest against vote-rigging in parliamentary elections.

Two years later the father of two stood for Moscow mayor, coming second against Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin.

In 2017, he accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of massive corruption in a YouTube documentary. That kick-started a fresh wave of protests across the country that was met with police violence and mass arrests.&nbsp;

The same year he had to travel to Spain for surgery after one of several street attacks left him nearly blind in one eye.

Brother jailed

Navalny has faced a series of legal cases, which supporters see as punishment for his activism.

In 2013, he was found guilty in an embezzlement case involving a timber deal and given a five-year suspended sentence that disqualified him from standing for public office.

The European Court of Human Rights threw out the verdict but a retrial issued Navalny the same sentence.

He then had to spend months under house arrest and was often kept incommunicado over another graft case linked to French cosmetics company Yves Rocher.

In 2014, he was given another suspended sentence, and his brother Oleg, a co-defendant, was jailed for three and a half years in a decision activist have compared to "hostage-taking".

Navalny has said he learned about political campaigning from watching the US television series "House of Cards" and once listed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tom-cruise-arnold-schwarzenegger-revive-80s-hollywood-classics-at-comic-con-237124">Hollywood actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger</a> among his heroes.

Navalny toured Russia ahead of the 2018 presidential election in an American-style campaign to rally his supporters.

But with the Kremlin tightly controlling the media, he remains a fringe figure for many Russians, who are exposed to the official portrayal of him as a Western stooge and convicted criminal.&nbsp;

Putin has refused to pronounce Navalny's name in public, instead referring to him as "the person you mentioned", among other euphemisms, when asked directly about the opposition leader.

Eye-catching exposes 
&nbsp; 
While barred from mainstream politics, Navalny has kept trying to expose the lavish wealth of Russia's elites, broadcasting the findings of his investigations to millions of Russians on social media and YouTube.

Trawling through land registries and the filings of offshore companies, Navalny and his team have helped lay bare the mansions and hidden fortunes of high-ranking officials.&nbsp;

Among Navalny's most eye-catching exposes have been details on the palatial homes of Putin's allies in Russia and abroad including one kitted out with a vast climate-controlled storage room for fur coats in the residence of Vladimir Yakunin, former chief of Russia's national railways.

But despite tapping into discontent among a largely young urban middle class he is far from a unifying opposition figure and some have criticised his anti-immigrant nationalist stance.

Several members of Navalny's team have fought hard to get on the ballot for Moscow parliament elections in September, each managing to collect roughly 5,000 signatures from supporters. They have been barred from running, along with other pro-Kremlin politicians.

Last week Navalny was jailed for calling an unauthorised protest over the ban and on Sunday he was rushed to a hospital. His lawyer and doctor said he had been "poisoned." 
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A charismatic anti-corruption campaigner, Alexei Navalny has been Russia's leading opposition politician for around a decade, determined to challenge Vladimir Putin's grip on power despite frequent prison stays and even damage to his health.

A charismatic anti-corruption campaigner, Alexei Navalny has been Russia's leading opposition politician for around a decade, determined to challenge Vladimir Putin's grip on power despite frequent prison stays and even damage to his health. The Yale-educated 43-year-old lawyer has been banned from state television and was barred from challenging Putin in a presidential election last year. He has often been jailed and physically attacked, but has vowed to press ahead with his campaign to change Russia for the better. Navalny has won a young fan base through viral videos exposing corruption among the elites and has more than two million followers on Twitter. He has grabbed attention with his uncompromising rhetoric and coined phrases such as the "party of crooks and thieves" to slam the ruling party United Russia. In 2011, the anti-corruption blogger led mass protests when tens of thousands took to the streets of Moscow to protest against vote-rigging in parliamentary elections. Two years later the father of two stood for Moscow mayor, coming second against Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin. In 2017, he accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of massive corruption in a YouTube documentary. That kick-started a fresh wave of protests across the country that was met with police violence and mass arrests. The same year he had to travel to Spain for surgery after one of several street attacks left him nearly blind in one eye. Brother jailed Navalny has faced a series of legal cases, which supporters see as punishment for his activism. In 2013, he was found guilty in an embezzlement case involving a timber deal and given a five-year suspended sentence that disqualified him from standing for public office. The European Court of Human Rights threw out the verdict but a retrial issued Navalny the same sentence. He then had to spend months under house arrest and was often kept incommunicado over another graft case linked to French cosmetics company Yves Rocher. In 2014, he was given another suspended sentence, and his brother Oleg, a co-defendant, was jailed for three and a half years in a decision activist have compared to "hostage-taking". Navalny has said he learned about political campaigning from watching the US television series "House of Cards" and once listed Hollywood actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger among his heroes. Navalny toured Russia ahead of the 2018 presidential election in an American-style campaign to rally his supporters. But with the Kremlin tightly controlling the media, he remains a fringe figure for many Russians, who are exposed to the official portrayal of him as a Western stooge and convicted criminal. Putin has refused to pronounce Navalny's name in public, instead referring to him as "the person you mentioned", among other euphemisms, when asked directly about the opposition leader. Eye-catching exposes While barred from mainstream politics, Navalny has kept trying to expose the lavish wealth of Russia's elites, broadcasting the findings of his investigations to millions of Russians on social media and YouTube. Trawling through land registries and the filings of offshore companies, Navalny and his team have helped lay bare the mansions and hidden fortunes of high-ranking officials. Among Navalny's most eye-catching exposes have been details on the palatial homes of Putin's allies in Russia and abroad including one kitted out with a vast climate-controlled storage room for fur coats in the residence of Vladimir Yakunin, former chief of Russia's national railways. But despite tapping into discontent among a largely young urban middle class he is far from a unifying opposition figure and some have criticised his anti-immigrant nationalist stance. Several members of Navalny's team have fought hard to get on the ballot for Moscow parliament elections in September, each managing to collect roughly 5,000 signatures from supporters. They have been barred from running, along with other pro-Kremlin politicians. Last week Navalny was jailed for calling an unauthorised protest over the ban and on Sunday he was rushed to a hospital. His lawyer and doctor said he had been "poisoned."

Alexei Navalny: The lawyer standing up to Russia's President Vladimir Putin

With biggest crackdown on protesters in recent years, political tensions escalate in Russia

Alexei Navalny has "severe swelling of the face and skin redness", according to his spokeswoman.

Doctor not ruling out Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been poisoned

Russian opposition leader Alexei <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-hospitalised-for-allergic-reaction-239039">Navalny was hospitalised on Sunday</a> after suffering an acute allergic reaction which one doctor said may have been the result of him being poisoned with an unknown chemical substance.

Navalny, 43, was rushed to hospital from jail where he is serving a 30-day sentence for violating tough protest laws, a day after police in Moscow detained more than 1,000 people for an illegal demonstration called for by Navalny.

His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said Navalny had signs of an acute allergy with "severe swelling of the face and skin redness."

A doctor at the hospital treating him told the Interfax news agency that Navalny had been diagnosed with hives and that he was feeling better.

But one doctor who has treated him in the past and was able to speak briefly with him and look at him through the crack of a door on Sunday said she could not rule out that he had been poisoned.

"We cannot rule out that toxic damage to the skin and mucous membranes by an unknown chemical substance was inflicted with the help of a 'third party'," Anastasia Vasilyeva, the doctor, wrote on Facebook.

Vasilyeva, who said Navalny had a rash on his upper body, skin lesions, and discharge from his eye, called for samples of Navalny's bedsheets, skin and hair to be tested for chemicals.

She said she found the fact that she had not been allowed to examine him properly suspicious.

The Moscow hospital where Navalny's spokeswoman said he was being treated could not be reached for comment.

Separately, Navalny's lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, wrote on Facebook on Sunday evening that doctors did not know what was wrong with her client, but that she deemed his symptoms strange given that he had never suffered from allergies in the past.

Navalny suffered a serious chemical burn to his right eye in 2017 as a result of an assault. Doctors were able to restore his sight and save the eye.

He was jailed on Wednesday this week for 30 days for calling for Saturday's unauthorised march to protest against the exclusion of several opposition candidates from a local election later this year.

While Navalny was behind bars, police rounded up more than 1,000 people in the Russian capital during Saturday's rally in one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years against the opposition, drawing international criticism.

A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Moscow, Andrea Kalan, wrote on Twitter on Sunday that a large number of detentions in Moscow and the "use of disproportionate police force undermine rights of citizens to participate in the democratic process."

Opposition activist detained

In a separate incident on Sunday, Russian activist Dmitry Gudkov, who was among the opposition candidates barred from running in local elections later this year, said he had been detained and taken to a Moscow police station.

The reason for Gudkov's detention was not immediately clear, his spokesman Alexei Obukhov told Reuters.

Russia's Interior Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Navalny and Gudkov's detention.

Police on Sunday night detained about 10 people, including journalists, who had gathered in front of the hospital where Navalny was being treated.

Navalny, a lawyer and anti-corruption activist, has served several stints in jail in recent years for organising anti-government demonstrations.

The European Court of Human Rights last year ruled Russia's arrests and detention of Navalny in 2012 and 2014 were politically motivated and breached his human rights, a ruling Moscow called questionable.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was hospitalised on Sunday after suffering an acute allergic reaction which one doctor said may have been the result of him being poisoned with an unknown chemical substance.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was hospitalised on Sunday after suffering an acute allergic reaction which one doctor said may have been the result of him being poisoned with an unknown chemical substance. Navalny, 43, was rushed to hospital from jail where he is serving a 30-day sentence for violating tough protest laws, a day after police in Moscow detained more than 1,000 people for an illegal demonstration called for by Navalny. His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said Navalny had signs of an acute allergy with "severe swelling of the face and skin redness." A doctor at the hospital treating him told the Interfax news agency that Navalny had been diagnosed with hives and that he was feeling better. But one doctor who has treated him in the past and was able to speak briefly with him and look at him through the crack of a door on Sunday said she could not rule out that he had been poisoned. "We cannot rule out that toxic damage to the skin and mucous membranes by an unknown chemical substance was inflicted with the help of a 'third party'," Anastasia Vasilyeva, the doctor, wrote on Facebook. Vasilyeva, who said Navalny had a rash on his upper body, skin lesions, and discharge from his eye, called for samples of Navalny's bedsheets, skin and hair to be tested for chemicals. She said she found the fact that she had not been allowed to examine him properly suspicious. The Moscow hospital where Navalny's spokeswoman said he was being treated could not be reached for comment. Separately, Navalny's lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, wrote on Facebook on Sunday evening that doctors did not know what was wrong with her client, but that she deemed his symptoms strange given that he had never suffered from allergies in the past. Navalny suffered a serious chemical burn to his right eye in 2017 as a result of an assault. Doctors were able to restore his sight and save the eye. He was jailed on Wednesday this week for 30 days for calling for Saturday's unauthorised march to protest against the exclusion of several opposition candidates from a local election later this year. While Navalny was behind bars, police rounded up more than 1,000 people in the Russian capital during Saturday's rally in one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years against the opposition, drawing international criticism. A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Moscow, Andrea Kalan, wrote on Twitter on Sunday that a large number of detentions in Moscow and the "use of disproportionate police force undermine rights of citizens to participate in the democratic process." Opposition activist detained In a separate incident on Sunday, Russian activist Dmitry Gudkov, who was among the opposition candidates barred from running in local elections later this year, said he had been detained and taken to a Moscow police station. The reason for Gudkov's detention was not immediately clear, his spokesman Alexei Obukhov told Reuters. Russia's Interior Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Navalny and Gudkov's detention. Police on Sunday night detained about 10 people, including journalists, who had gathered in front of the hospital where Navalny was being treated. Navalny, a lawyer and anti-corruption activist, has served several stints in jail in recent years for organising anti-government demonstrations. The European Court of Human Rights last year ruled Russia's arrests and detention of Navalny in 2012 and 2014 were politically motivated and breached his human rights, a ruling Moscow called questionable.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny may have been poisoned: Doctor

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, serving time in jail for calling for unauthorized protests, was hospitalized after suffering an acute allergic reaction on Sunday (July 28), his spokeswoman said. Navalny was jailed this week for 30 days for calling for an unauthorized march to protest against the exclusion of several opposition candidates from a local election later this year. Authorities say the opposition candidates were barred because they failed to collect enough genuine signatures backing them, an allegation they reject as false. Police rounded up more than 1,000 people in the Russian capital at the rally on Saturday in one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years against the opposition, drawing international criticism.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny hospitalized for allergic reaction

Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny hospitalised and may have been poisoned, say hospital authorities. Watch video to know more.

WION Dispatch: Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny hospitalised

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was discharged from a Moscow hospital on Monday where he was being treated for an unexplained health problem and returned to prison under guard, Anastasia Vasilyeva, his doctor, said.

Separately, Navalny's lawyer Olga Mikhailova told reporters in front of the hospital that her client had been poisoned by an unidentified chemical agent, a thesis put forward by Vasilyeva a day earlier.

Navalny, 43, was rushed to hospital from jail on Sunday morning with what his spokeswoman said were signs of an acute allergy with "severe swelling of the face and skin redness."

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was discharged from a Moscow hospital on Monday where he was being treated for an unexplained health problem and returned to prison under guard, Anastasia Vasilyeva, his doctor, said.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was discharged from a Moscow hospital on Monday where he was being treated for an unexplained health problem and returned to prison under guard, Anastasia Vasilyeva, his doctor, said. Separately, Navalny's lawyer Olga Mikhailova told reporters in front of the hospital that her client had been poisoned by an unidentified chemical agent, a thesis put forward by Vasilyeva a day earlier. Navalny, 43, was rushed to hospital from jail on Sunday morning with what his spokeswoman said were signs of an acute allergy with "severe swelling of the face and skin redness."

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny discharged from hospital

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, currently serving time in jail for calling for unauthorised protests, was hospitalised after suffering an acute allergic reaction on Sunday, his spokeswoman said.

Navalny was jailed this week for 30 days for calling for an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-detains-more-than-1000-people-in-opposition-crackdown-238939">unauthorised march to protest against the exclusion of several opposition candidates</a> from a local election later this year.

Authorities say the opposition candidates were barred because they failed to collect enough genuine signatures backing them, an allegation they reject as false.

Police rounded up more than 1,000 people in the Russian capital at the march on Saturday in one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years against the opposition.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, wrote on Twitter that he had been hospitalised on Sunday morning with "severe swelling of the face and skin redness."

She said the cause of Navalny's allergic reaction was unknown and that he had never had suffered from such reactions in the past.

The Moscow hospital where Navalny's spokeswoman said he was being treated could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a separate incident on Sunday, Russian activist Dmitry Gudkov, who was among the opposition candidates barred from running in local elections this year, said he was detained and taken to a Moscow police station.

The reason for Gudkov's detention was not immediately clear, his spokesman Alexei Obukhov told Reuters.

Russia's interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Navalny and Gudkov's detention.

Obukhov said Gudkov, a former MP who challenged pro-Kremlin initiatives, had been detained as he walked out of a shop near his home on Sunday, where he had been buying food for the protesters still being held.

Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, has served several stints in jail in recent years for organising anti-government demonstrations.

The European Court of Human Rights last year ruled that Russia's arrests and detention of Navalny in 2012 and 2014 were politically-motivated and breached his human rights, a ruling Moscow called questionable.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, currently serving time in jail for calling for unauthorised protests, was hospitalised after suffering an acute allergic reaction on Sunday, his spokeswoman said.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, currently serving time in jail for calling for unauthorised protests, was hospitalised after suffering an acute allergic reaction on Sunday, his spokeswoman said. Navalny was jailed this week for 30 days for calling for an unauthorised march to protest against the exclusion of several opposition candidates from a local election later this year. Authorities say the opposition candidates were barred because they failed to collect enough genuine signatures backing them, an allegation they reject as false. Police rounded up more than 1,000 people in the Russian capital at the march on Saturday in one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years against the opposition. Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, wrote on Twitter that he had been hospitalised on Sunday morning with "severe swelling of the face and skin redness." She said the cause of Navalny's allergic reaction was unknown and that he had never had suffered from such reactions in the past. The Moscow hospital where Navalny's spokeswoman said he was being treated could not immediately be reached for comment. In a separate incident on Sunday, Russian activist Dmitry Gudkov, who was among the opposition candidates barred from running in local elections this year, said he was detained and taken to a Moscow police station. The reason for Gudkov's detention was not immediately clear, his spokesman Alexei Obukhov told Reuters. Russia's interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Navalny and Gudkov's detention. Obukhov said Gudkov, a former MP who challenged pro-Kremlin initiatives, had been detained as he walked out of a shop near his home on Sunday, where he had been buying food for the protesters still being held. Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, has served several stints in jail in recent years for organising anti-government demonstrations. The European Court of Human Rights last year ruled that Russia's arrests and detention of Navalny in 2012 and 2014 were politically-motivated and breached his human rights, a ruling Moscow called questionable.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny hospitalised for allergic reaction

Russian police arrested almost <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-arrested-at-moscow-protest-after-opposition-crackdown-238830">1,400 people as they gathered in Moscow</a> at the weekend to demand open elections, a monitor said, the biggest crackdown on a rally in the country in years.

Some 3,500 people took part in the unauthorised protest on Saturday, according to official figures, after authorities blocked prominent opposition candidates from taking part in city elections.

The meeting came a week after 22,000 took to the streets calling on authorities to reverse their decision ahead of the vote.

Police used batons on protesters as they tried to gather outside city hall on Saturday, and AFP reporters at the scene saw demonstrators with injuries.&nbsp;

The EU in a statement denounced the "disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters," which it said undermined "the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly".&nbsp;

Amnesty International also condemned what it said was the use of excessive force by the police.&nbsp;

After the rally, last week investigators raided the homes and headquarters of a number of disqualified candidates. Top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was jailed for 30 days for calling the fresh protest.

Several would-be candidates were detained before or during the meeting on Saturday. Among them was Ilya Yashin, who called for another protest next weekend.&nbsp;

OVD-Info, an organisation that monitors protests, reported Sunday that 1,373 people were detained.&nbsp;

It said this was the highest number since mass demonstrations in 2012 when tens of thousands protested <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-detains-more-than-500-people-over-election-protest-monitor-238890">President Vladimir Putin's</a> return to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister.

The new protests come amid wider public anger over declining living standards that have hit Putin's approval ratings.

Elections to Moscow's 45-seat legislative body, currently controlled by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, are due to be held in September.&nbsp;

While pro-Kremlin candidates enjoy the support of the state, independent candidates say they have been made to jump through countless hoops in order to get on the ballot for the city polls.

Following pickets last week, including outside the local election commission building, investigators said they were launching a criminal probe into obstructing the work of election officials.&nbsp;

If found guilty, organisers risk up to five years in prison.

Russian police arrested almost 1,400 people as they gathered in Moscow at the weekend to demand open elections, a monitor said, the biggest crackdown on a rally in the country in years.

Russian police arrested almost 1,400 people as they gathered in Moscow at the weekend to demand open elections, a monitor said, the biggest crackdown on a rally in the country in years. Some 3,500 people took part in the unauthorised protest on Saturday, according to official figures, after authorities blocked prominent opposition candidates from taking part in city elections. The meeting came a week after 22,000 took to the streets calling on authorities to reverse their decision ahead of the vote. Police used batons on protesters as they tried to gather outside city hall on Saturday, and AFP reporters at the scene saw demonstrators with injuries. The EU in a statement denounced the "disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters," which it said undermined "the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly". Amnesty International also condemned what it said was the use of excessive force by the police. After the rally, last week investigators raided the homes and headquarters of a number of disqualified candidates. Top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was jailed for 30 days for calling the fresh protest. Several would-be candidates were detained before or during the meeting on Saturday. Among them was Ilya Yashin, who called for another protest next weekend. OVD-Info, an organisation that monitors protests, reported Sunday that 1,373 people were detained. It said this was the highest number since mass demonstrations in 2012 when tens of thousands protested President Vladimir Putin's return to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister. The new protests come amid wider public anger over declining living standards that have hit Putin's approval ratings. Elections to Moscow's 45-seat legislative body, currently controlled by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, are due to be held in September. While pro-Kremlin candidates enjoy the support of the state, independent candidates say they have been made to jump through countless hoops in order to get on the ballot for the city polls. Following pickets last week, including outside the local election commission building, investigators said they were launching a criminal probe into obstructing the work of election officials. If found guilty, organisers risk up to five years in prison.

Russian police arrest 1,400 people in Moscow election protest

Thousands of Russians say they will take to the streets of Moscow on Saturday to demand fair local elections, despite a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-police-detain-at-least-94-including-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-at-moscow-journalist-protest-226536">police crackdown on the opposition </a>that has seen top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny jailed.

The planned rally is the latest in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-over-20000-rally-in-moscow-as-election-anger-boils-over-237366">series of protests</a> over authorities' refusal to allow dozens of opposition candidates to stand for election to Moscow's city council in September.

Local polls are a rare opportunity for dissenting voices to participate in political life as anti-Kremlin parties have been squeezed out of parliament over President Vladimir Putin's 20 years in power.

Investigators raided the homes and headquarters of several disqualified candidates in the run-up to the protest, while Navalny was jailed for 30 days for calling for the demonstration.&nbsp;

Security was tight in central Moscow on Saturday and six people were arrested in front of city hall hours before the protest started, according to OVD-Info, which monitors arrests during demonstrations.

Politician and would-be candidate Dmitry Gudkov, whose home was raided on Wednesday, said the future of the country was at stake.

"If we lose now, elections will cease to exist as a political instrument," he said.&nbsp;

"What we're talking about is whether it's legal to participate in politics today in Russia, we're talking about the country we're going to live in."

Navalny ally Ivan Zhdanov said on Twitter he had been arrested shortly ahead of the demonstration on Saturday.&nbsp;

Barred candidate Ilya Yashin said in the early hours of Saturday morning he had also been arrested following a raid on his home.

'Security threat'

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobaynin called the unauthorised protest a "security threat", adding that "order will be ensured according to the relevant laws".&nbsp;

Officials told Russia's TASS news agency they would be looking for people who had avoided military service at the rally.&nbsp;

Last weekend 22,000 people turned up for a protest in Moscow, the largest such demonstration in years, after election authorities refused to register dozens of candidates.

A handful of people were detained at that protest, though hundreds were arrested last month at a demonstration in Moscow against police abuses.

While pro-Kremlin candidates enjoy the support of the state, independent candidates say they have been made to jump through countless hoops in order to get on the ballot.

Rejected candidate Lyubov Sobol this week launched a hunger strike in protest.&nbsp;

On Thursday, the 31-year-old demanded officials review her documents and came to the offices of the Moscow election commission to continue her strike.

But security agents took her out of the building on the sofa she was sitting on.

After activists and ordinary Muscovites staged pickets, including outside the local election commission building, investigators said they were launching a criminal probe into obstructing the work of election officials.&nbsp;

If found guilty, organisers risk up to five years in prison.

'Absurdities become norm'

Ahead of Saturday's rally, Russian business daily Vedomosti described the actions of local authorities as Orwellian.

"Over the past days, absurdities have become the norm," the newspaper said.

Nearly 11,000 people indicated interest in the rally on Facebook, which comes amid declining living standards and falling approval ratings for Putin.

Police asked media to notify the authorities if they planned to cover the protest and urged Russians to skip the rally altogether.

Viktoria Popova, a 30-year-old illustrator, said she could not miss it.&nbsp;

"It is impossible not to come, it's impossible to feel powerless, unable to change anything," she told AFP.

"Who would have thought it would become important to take part in such a bizarre and boring affair as the Moscow parliament election?"

Thousands of Russians say they will take to the streets of Moscow on Saturday to demand fair local elections, despite a police crackdown on the opposition that has seen top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny jailed.

Thousands of Russians say they will take to the streets of Moscow on Saturday to demand fair local elections, despite a police crackdown on the opposition that has seen top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny jailed. The planned rally is the latest in a series of protests over authorities' refusal to allow dozens of opposition candidates to stand for election to Moscow's city council in September. Local polls are a rare opportunity for dissenting voices to participate in political life as anti-Kremlin parties have been squeezed out of parliament over President Vladimir Putin's 20 years in power. Investigators raided the homes and headquarters of several disqualified candidates in the run-up to the protest, while Navalny was jailed for 30 days for calling for the demonstration. Security was tight in central Moscow on Saturday and six people were arrested in front of city hall hours before the protest started, according to OVD-Info, which monitors arrests during demonstrations. Politician and would-be candidate Dmitry Gudkov, whose home was raided on Wednesday, said the future of the country was at stake. "If we lose now, elections will cease to exist as a political instrument," he said. "What we're talking about is whether it's legal to participate in politics today in Russia, we're talking about the country we're going to live in." Navalny ally Ivan Zhdanov said on Twitter he had been arrested shortly ahead of the demonstration on Saturday. Barred candidate Ilya Yashin said in the early hours of Saturday morning he had also been arrested following a raid on his home. 'Security threat' Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobaynin called the unauthorised protest a "security threat", adding that "order will be ensured according to the relevant laws". Officials told Russia's TASS news agency they would be looking for people who had avoided military service at the rally. Last weekend 22,000 people turned up for a protest in Moscow, the largest such demonstration in years, after election authorities refused to register dozens of candidates. A handful of people were detained at that protest, though hundreds were arrested last month at a demonstration in Moscow against police abuses. While pro-Kremlin candidates enjoy the support of the state, independent candidates say they have been made to jump through countless hoops in order to get on the ballot. Rejected candidate Lyubov Sobol this week launched a hunger strike in protest. On Thursday, the 31-year-old demanded officials review her documents and came to the offices of the Moscow election commission to continue her strike. But security agents took her out of the building on the sofa she was sitting on. After activists and ordinary Muscovites staged pickets, including outside the local election commission building, investigators said they were launching a criminal probe into obstructing the work of election officials. If found guilty, organisers risk up to five years in prison. 'Absurdities become norm' Ahead of Saturday's rally, Russian business daily Vedomosti described the actions of local authorities as Orwellian. "Over the past days, absurdities have become the norm," the newspaper said. Nearly 11,000 people indicated interest in the rally on Facebook, which comes amid declining living standards and falling approval ratings for Putin. Police asked media to notify the authorities if they planned to cover the protest and urged Russians to skip the rally altogether. Viktoria Popova, a 30-year-old illustrator, said she could not miss it. "It is impossible not to come, it's impossible to feel powerless, unable to change anything," she told AFP. "Who would have thought it would become important to take part in such a bizarre and boring affair as the Moscow parliament election?"

Russian opposition plans protest demanding fair elections despite arrests

More than 22,000 people packed a Moscow square Saturday to demand free and fair local polls, incensed by the authorities' refusal to put popular opposition candidates on the ballot.

Staging their largest protest in years, opposition leaders such as President Vladimir Putin's top opponent Alexei Navalny and ordinary Muscovites rallied after authorities refused to register independent candidates seeking to contest the September vote for the capital's parliament.

"This is my city!" the crowd chanted during the two-hour-long sanctioned rally.

"We will show them this is a dangerous game," Navalny bellowed from a stage.

"We should fight for our candidates," he said as the huge crowd cheered and waved Russian flags.&nbsp;

The 43-year-old threatened an even bigger rally next Saturday, near the mayor's office, unless Moscow's authorities register a new crop of popular politicians including Ilya Yashin and Lyubov Sobol within seven days.

After the rally, 16 independent candidates issued a joint statement demanding access to the ballot and accusing Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin of sparking a "political crisis" in the city of some 15 million.

Speaking at the rally, Navalny ally Sobol, who has been on a hunger strike for a week to protest the authorities' refusal to allow her to run, vowed to keep up the fight.

"I am sure that we will win," said the visibly fatigued 31-year-old lawyer, propped up by an ally on stage.

Many ordinary Russians have slammed what they called the blatant impunity of officials, saying people's patience was running thin.

"We are angry at the lawlessness," Alexander Polovinkin, a 21-year-old student, told AFP.

Police detained a handful of protesters, said the OVD-Info monitor, adding one of them had his arm broken.

'Stop lying'

Many protesters took direct aim at the 66-year-old Putin, who has brooked no dissent during his two decades in power.

"Putin lies," said one placard. "Stop lying to us," read another one.

Opposition candidate Ilya Yashin, who is a local councillor, said Putin must go. "I've lived half my life under Putin. I've had enough," the 36-year-old said.

Fellow opposition contender Dmitry Gudkov, who was also disqualified, accused the authorities of stealing not only people's votes but their very future.

"We've been living in an occupied country for the past 20 years," he said.

White Counter, an NGO that tracks participation in protest rallies, said about 22,500 people took part in Saturday's rally.&nbsp;

Navalny said it was the largest rally since 2012 when tens of thousands protested election fraud during parliamentary polls.

Police, which downplay&nbsp;turnout at opposition rallies, said 12,000 turned up.

Observers said that never before have Muscovites turned up in such great numbers to demand access for their candidates in local elections.&nbsp;

Opposition politicians fought tooth and nail to get on the ballot paper as they seek to capitalise on Putin's falling approval ratings and anger over declining living standards and unchecked corruption.

They were made to jump through countless hoops, and each had to collect roughly 5,000 signatures to be eligible.

'We are ghosts'

Electoral authorities this week still refused to register the opposition candidates, accusing them of faking some of the signatures.&nbsp;

Critics said some of the officials' reasoning bordered on the absurd.

The Kremlin dismissed the opposition's complaints, but many Russians are furious at what they perceive as electoral interference.

The opposition candidates staged smaller daily rallies throughout the week.

Many have also taken to social media in recent days to post messages or videos to prove they were not "dead souls."

At Saturday's rally, some protesters waved their passports in the air, chanting "We have come!"

Greg Yudin, a lecturer at the Higher School of Economics, said he and many other Muscovites discovered that their signatures were declared fake.

"All of us are ghosts. We are the nobodies," he said on Facebook this week.

Observer Kirill Rogov said the candidates' exclusion was "one of the largest frauds in Russia's electoral history".

"We are witnessing a major large-scale crime," he wrote on his blog.

Some 7.2 million Muscovites are eligible to elect 45 lawmakers to the local parliament, currently dominated by the United Russia ruling party.

More than 22,000 people packed a Moscow square Saturday to demand free and fair local polls, incensed by the authorities' refusal to put popular opposition candidates on the ballot.

More than 22,000 people packed a Moscow square Saturday to demand free and fair local polls, incensed by the authorities' refusal to put popular opposition candidates on the ballot. Staging their largest protest in years, opposition leaders such as President Vladimir Putin's top opponent Alexei Navalny and ordinary Muscovites rallied after authorities refused to register independent candidates seeking to contest the September vote for the capital's parliament. "This is my city!" the crowd chanted during the two-hour-long sanctioned rally. "We will show them this is a dangerous game," Navalny bellowed from a stage. "We should fight for our candidates," he said as the huge crowd cheered and waved Russian flags. The 43-year-old threatened an even bigger rally next Saturday, near the mayor's office, unless Moscow's authorities register a new crop of popular politicians including Ilya Yashin and Lyubov Sobol within seven days. After the rally, 16 independent candidates issued a joint statement demanding access to the ballot and accusing Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin of sparking a "political crisis" in the city of some 15 million. Speaking at the rally, Navalny ally Sobol, who has been on a hunger strike for a week to protest the authorities' refusal to allow her to run, vowed to keep up the fight. "I am sure that we will win," said the visibly fatigued 31-year-old lawyer, propped up by an ally on stage. Many ordinary Russians have slammed what they called the blatant impunity of officials, saying people's patience was running thin. "We are angry at the lawlessness," Alexander Polovinkin, a 21-year-old student, told AFP. Police detained a handful of protesters, said the OVD-Info monitor, adding one of them had his arm broken. 'Stop lying' Many protesters took direct aim at the 66-year-old Putin, who has brooked no dissent during his two decades in power. "Putin lies," said one placard. "Stop lying to us," read another one. Opposition candidate Ilya Yashin, who is a local councillor, said Putin must go. "I've lived half my life under Putin. I've had enough," the 36-year-old said. Fellow opposition contender Dmitry Gudkov, who was also disqualified, accused the authorities of stealing not only people's votes but their very future. "We've been living in an occupied country for the past 20 years," he said. White Counter, an NGO that tracks participation in protest rallies, said about 22,500 people took part in Saturday's rally. Navalny said it was the largest rally since 2012 when tens of thousands protested election fraud during parliamentary polls. Police, which downplay turnout at opposition rallies, said 12,000 turned up. Observers said that never before have Muscovites turned up in such great numbers to demand access for their candidates in local elections. Opposition politicians fought tooth and nail to get on the ballot paper as they seek to capitalise on Putin's falling approval ratings and anger over declining living standards and unchecked corruption. They were made to jump through countless hoops, and each had to collect roughly 5,000 signatures to be eligible. 'We are ghosts' Electoral authorities this week still refused to register the opposition candidates, accusing them of faking some of the signatures. Critics said some of the officials' reasoning bordered on the absurd. The Kremlin dismissed the opposition's complaints, but many Russians are furious at what they perceive as electoral interference. The opposition candidates staged smaller daily rallies throughout the week. Many have also taken to social media in recent days to post messages or videos to prove they were not "dead souls." At Saturday's rally, some protesters waved their passports in the air, chanting "We have come!" Greg Yudin, a lecturer at the Higher School of Economics, said he and many other Muscovites discovered that their signatures were declared fake. "All of us are ghosts. We are the nobodies," he said on Facebook this week. Observer Kirill Rogov said the candidates' exclusion was "one of the largest frauds in Russia's electoral history". "We are witnessing a major large-scale crime," he wrote on his blog. Some 7.2 million Muscovites are eligible to elect 45 lawmakers to the local parliament, currently dominated by the United Russia ruling party.

Russia: Over 20,000 rally in Moscow as election anger boils over

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