Russian Police Crack Down on Protests, Stage Arrests

As Russian police cracks down on anti-government protests, ruling party United Russia supporters celebrate victory at parliamentary elections at a rally in central Moscow Tuesday. EPA/BGNES

Protesters assembled in Moscow against what they see as rigged general electons Sunday, have been tackled by Russian police, who have now arrested key opposition leaders.

They include Boris Nemtsov, leader of the Solidarity movement, as well as Yabloko party leader Sergey Mitrokhin, writes RIA Novosti. A journalist from major media Gazeta.ru has also been detained.

Earlier Tuesday, agencies reported that troops from the so-called Dzerzhinsky division, specialized in cracking down on protests, are heading towards downtown Moscow.

RIA Novosti further reports that at least 250 arrests have been made, and police have now blocked access to Moscow's Triumph square, where the protest is being carried out.

The protest against Sunday's elections, in which PM Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party again gained a decisive albeit smaller majority, has not been given permission by Russian authorities.

At the same time, a counter protest by United Russia activists is being carried out in the vicinity of the anti-governmental protest in Moscow's Triumph Square.