Russian opposition leader arrested at anti-corruption protest

Russia’s main opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested at an anti-corruption protest he had organised in central Moscow.

Police also detailed dozens of other protestors at the rally, which called for the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev over corruption allegations.

Navalny was bundled into a police bus, which was unable to drive away for several minutes as crowds gathered around it and tried to free him. There were also isolated incidents of protestors clashing with riot police and shouting “Shame!” and “Russia will be free!”

He later posted on Twitter: “Him everything is fine with me. I’m at the police station and we’re talking about the [Medvedev] film with the police. Keep up your peaceful walk, the weather is good.”

The protests gathered crowds of hundreds or thousands in most major Russian cities, from Moscow to the far eastern port city of Vladivostok. They appeared to be one of the largest coordinated outpourings of political resentment in Russia since the massive 2011-2013 rallies against a fraud-tainted parliamentary election.

Sunday’s protests focused on reports by Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation that Medvedev had amassed a collection of mansions, yachts and vineyards. The luxuries allegedly included a house for raising ducks, so several placards at the protest showed mocking images of yellow plastic ducks. Medvedev has not commented on the claims.

Navalny has announced his intention to run for president against Vladimir Putin 2018, but he is barred from doing so after he was found guilty in a case he said was politicised.