Marches spread to St Petersburg
Demonstrators take to streets of St Petersburg ahead of visit by Vladimir Putin
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Sunday, 25, Nov 2007 08:29
Anti-Kremlin protests have taken place in Russia for the second consecutive day, leading to the arrest of more than 200 activists.
The opposition rally in St Petersburg today saw about 300 people take to the streets in contrast to the 3,000-strong crowd seen in Moscow yesterday.
Protestors were vastly outnumbered by a strong riot police and military presence.
Former chess grandmaster turned Other Russia figurehead Garry Kasparov was among those arrested during the protests in the Russian capital on Saturday.
The opposition leader is due to spend the next five days in jail for organising an illegal march.
Supporters of Other Russia – a coalition of opposition political movements – have been protesting after their candidates were reportedly blocked from standing in next month's parliamentary elections.
Boris Nemtsov, leader of the Union of Right Forces (SPS), part of the Other Russia coalition, was among those arrested today, although he was later released.
Addressing the crowd earlier he said: "They have forbidden us from discussing Putin.
"But we have come here today to ask Mr Putin and the authorities why there is so much corruption in the country?"
Mr Putin, who is due to visit his hometown of St Petersburg tomorrow, is obliged by Russia's constitution to stand down as president by March next year.
He has already hinted however that he will use his almost-guaranteed seat in the Duma to bid to become Russia's next prime minister, with his successor's presidential powers subsequently reduced.