Russian police on Saturday detained prominent opposition activist Lyubov Sobol ahead of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-opposition-plans-new-election-protest-despite-crackdown-240340">planned protest in Moscow</a> to demand free elections.

Thousands of Russian opposition protesters are expected to try and rally again in Moscow on Saturday despite a sweeping police crackdown and ban on the event.

Sobol had called on people to attend the demonstration, which authorities in Moscow had refused to sanction.

Sobol, who is on hunger strike, was detained in a taxi as she tried to make her way to the protest and driven off in a police van.

The unauthorised march along Moscow's leafy boulevards will be the latest in a series of demonstrations after officials refused to let popular opposition candidates run in next month's city parliament elections.

The local issue has boiled over into one of the worst political conflicts of recent years, with rallies of up to 22,000 people and police violence against demonstrators.

More than 6,000 people said on Facebook they would take part in the march along Moscow's so-called Boulevard Ring on Saturday to "bring back the right to elections".

Authorities installed barriers along the route ahead of the protest.

Candidates needed to collect signatures from city residents to stand in the polls but officials said they were disqualified because some names were forged.

But candidates, including allies of top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, insist their signatures were thrown out arbitrarily, and the whole vetting process was skewed against them.

Many Muscovites said their signatures in support of opposition candidates were declared invalid for no reason.

President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment on the situation in Moscow.

Russian police on Saturday detained prominent opposition activist Lyubov Sobol ahead of a planned protest in Moscow to demand free elections. Thousands of Russian opposition protesters are expected to try and rally again in Moscow on Saturday despite a sweeping police crackdown and ban on the event.

Russian police on Saturday detained prominent opposition activist Lyubov Sobol ahead of a planned protest in Moscow to demand free elections. Thousands of Russian opposition protesters are expected to try and rally again in Moscow on Saturday despite a sweeping police crackdown and ban on the event. Sobol had called on people to attend the demonstration, which authorities in Moscow had refused to sanction. Sobol, who is on hunger strike, was detained in a taxi as she tried to make her way to the protest and driven off in a police van. The unauthorised march along Moscow's leafy boulevards will be the latest in a series of demonstrations after officials refused to let popular opposition candidates run in next month's city parliament elections. The local issue has boiled over into one of the worst political conflicts of recent years, with rallies of up to 22,000 people and police violence against demonstrators. More than 6,000 people said on Facebook they would take part in the march along Moscow's so-called Boulevard Ring on Saturday to "bring back the right to elections". Authorities installed barriers along the route ahead of the protest. Candidates needed to collect signatures from city residents to stand in the polls but officials said they were disqualified because some names were forged. But candidates, including allies of top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, insist their signatures were thrown out arbitrarily, and the whole vetting process was skewed against them. Many Muscovites said their signatures in support of opposition candidates were declared invalid for no reason. President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment on the situation in Moscow.

Russian police detain prominent opposition activist before protest

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

lyubov-sobol

Lyubov Sobol, News on Lyubov Sobol, stories on Lyubov Sobol, articles on Lyubov Sobol, Lyubov Sobol stories at Wion, Lyubov Sobol news, Lyubov Sobol latest news

lyubov sobol

Russian police detain prominent opposition activist before protest

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