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Hundreds Arrested at Anti-Government Rally in Moscow

by VOA News

   Hundreds of protesters were arrested in Moscow Sunday during a
   demonstration against Russian president Vladimir Putin coinciding with
   celebrations of Russia's National Unity Day holiday.

   According to OVD-Info, which monitors crackdowns on demonstrations, 360
   people had been arrested in demonstrations across the country by 5pm on
   Sunday. Moscow police had put the figure in the capital at 260.

   Tass news agency said that many protesters in Moscow had knives and
   brass knuckles.

   Protesters at the unsanctioned demonstration are believed to be linked
   to nationalist politician and Kremlin critic Vyacheslav Maltsev and his
   Artillery Preparation movement -- a group declared extremist and banned
   in Russia.

   Self-exiled Maltsev said on YouTube that Russia is up for a
   "revolution" this weekend.

   Putin declared November 4 "National Unity Day" in 2005 to mark Russia's
   victory over Poland in 1612.