Among those arrested is opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, who was arrested at his apartment
even before he could join the demonstrators.

The protesters chose Russia Day to make their voices heard, and Navalny called on those in Moscow to gatecrash
a historical re-enactment on Tverskaya street in the city centre. People shouted “Putin is a thief” and “Russia without Putin”
before being dragged away by police.

While only popular with a minority Navalny’s reputation is growing and this latest protest was designed to see if his movement
retains the momentum that saw it bring some 60,000 people out around the country in March to protest against the alleged
corruption of Prime Minister Medvedev.

Russia is now heading into an election period which culminates next March in a presidential vote expected to give Putin another
six years in power. Navalny is struggling to get his name on the ballot so he can run against the president. (Euronews)