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1,074 Protesters Arrested in Moscow, Russian Media Say

VOANews

   Updated 3:19p.m., July 27.

   Russian police on Saturdaybeat some people and arrestedmore than
   1,000who were protesting in Moscow against the exclusion of opposition
   candidates from a local election later this year.Police also stormed
   into a TV station broadcasting the protest.

   Policegrappled with protesters around the mayor's office,
   sometimesrushing the crowd with batons raised. State news
   agenciesTassand RIA-Novosti cited police as saying 1,074 were
   arrestedduring the protests, which ran for seven hours.

   The protesters, who police said numbered about 3,500, shouted such
   slogans as``Russia will be free!'' and ``Who are you beating?'' One
   young woman was seen bleeding heavilyfrom a head wound.

   Last week 22,000 demonstrated in a similar Moscow protest.

   Several opposition activists who wanted to run forseats on the Moscow
   city council in the Sept. 8 election were arrested throughout the city
   before the protestbegan.Opposition figureAlexei Navalnywas sentenced
   Wednesday to 30 days in jail for calling an unauthorized protest.

   On Saturday, police stormed Navalny's video studio as it was
   broadcasting the protest via YouTube and arrested program leader
   Vladimir Milonov.

   Police also searched theDozhdinternet television station and ordered
   editor in chief AlexandraPerepelovato be questioned by authorities.

   Election officials have barred some opposition candidates from seeking
   office, allegedly for not having enough signatures on their nominating
   petitions.

   The Moscow city council, which has 45 seats, is controlled by the
   pro-Kremlin United Russia party. All the seats are up for grabs Sept.
   8.

   The protests and arrests come amid declining living standards and
   President Vladimir Putin's falling approval ratings.

   Some information for this report came from Associated Press.

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