Russia: 800 demonstrators detained during Russian regional elections

In Russia, according to observers, more than 800 people have been arrested for nationwide protests on occasion of regional elections. In metropolis of St. Petersburg alone, more than 350 people were detained, shared civil rights portal OVD-info on Sunday evening. In Ekaterinburg at Urals, almost 130 demonstrators were also set. However, it is only arrests that have already been reported, observers wrote. The numbers could still rise.

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Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny had called on Internet to demonstrate against government’s controversial pension reform on national Election Day. Navalny is currently in arrest for anor protest action. It was said that in more than 30 cities re had been arrests.

In Russian capital Moscow, according to police, about 2,000 participants took part in protests, but observers are from far more demonstrators. As civil rights group OWD-Info said, about 50 Navalny supporters were arrested in Moscow before protests. In addition, re have been wrangles between election observers and police officers in some electoral locales. According to OWD-info, many rallies against raising retirement age were also banned.

On Sunday, governors and local parliaments were elected in many regions of Russia. In case of mayoral election in Moscow, according to first predictions, Kremlin loyal incumbent Sergei Sobjanin can expect a clear victory as expected. According to polls, he saw 74 percent of votes, as Russian agencies reported on Sunday evening after closure of polling venues in Russian capital. Around 7.2 million Moscow were called to vote, but turnout is expected to be low. The 60-year-old, who is a member of Kremlin party of Russia, has been in office since 2010 and is considered a loyal companion of President Vladimir Putin. The post of Moscow mayor is considered one of most important positions of power in country. Sobjanin had only been able to prevail in a runoff against Kremlin critic Navalny in election five years ago.

Opinion researchers go from a low voter turnout nationwide. By noon, participation in capital was only 8.2 percent. In particular, experts are responsible for controversial pension reform. So many citizens wanted to stay at home in protest against pension reform.

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At end of August, Putin had agreed to concessions on pension issue. For example, retirement age for women should not be increased by eight, as originally foreseen, but by five years and will be 60 years in future. For men it should rise from 60 to 65 years. It would be first raising of retirement age in Russia for almost 90 years. On average men in Russia are 67 years old, in women life expectancy is 77 years.