Russian police violence in spotlight after 3,500 protesters detained

Tens of thousands took to the streets on the weekend to demonstrate against the imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny

Police detain a protester during a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in downtown Moscow on January 23. AFP

An elderly woman attends a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in downtown Moscow. AFP

Protesters clash with riot police during a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in downtown Moscow. AFP

Law enforcement officers clash with protesters during a rally in support of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow. Reuters

Protesters clash with riot police during a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in downtown Moscow. AFP

Police detain a man during a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in downtown Moscow. AFP

A woman holds a banner with portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin and reads "We're not gonna take it anymore! We are not afraid", during a protest against the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow. AP Photo

Law enforcement officers clash with protesters during a rally in support of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow. Reuters

Law enforcement officers clash with protesters during a rally in support of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow. Reuters

Russian special police units officers detain a protester during a protest in support of Russian opposition leader and blogger Alexei Navalny in Moscow. EPA

Law enforcement officers clash with participants during a rally in support of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow. Reuters

Protesters clash with riot police during a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in downtown Moscow. AFP

People take part in a protest in support of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in Moscow. EPA

Nearly 3,500 protesters were arrested at demonstrations in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, a monitor reported on Sunday, as authorities probed violence on the part of both protesters and police.

Police clashed with demonstrators in Moscow as tens of thousands took to the streets across the country on Saturday following Mr Navalny's call to demonstrate against President Vladimir Putin's 20-year rule.

A number of protesters were injured, including a woman in Saint Petersburg who was hospitalised with a head injury and was in intensive care on Sunday.

The West condemned the arrests and "harsh tactics" used against demonstrators, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell saying the bloc would discuss "next steps" on Monday.

Late Saturday the Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it launched criminal inquiries in Moscow over the use of violence against law enforcement, hooliganism and property damage.

"Investigators are continuing to study and analyse a large amount of photo and video materials," the Committee said.

In a separate statement, investigators said on Sunday a 36-year-old man hit two policemen at the Saint Petersburg protest and was detained.

But Saint Petersburg prosecutors also said they were probing violations "on the part of law enforcement" and the use of force against a woman.

The statement was released after local media published a video showing a middle-aged woman falling to the ground after being kicked by riot police.

In the video, a woman – identified as Margarita Yudina – is seen asking three policemen in full riot gear why they are detaining a young protester. One of the policeman then kicks her in the stomach.

Saint Petersburg's Dzhanelidze hospital said Ms Yudina was hospitalised with a head injury.

"She is in a serious condition," a hospital representative told AFP on Sunday. "She's in intensive care."

Moscow authorities for their part insisted that no one remained hospitalised in the capital following the rallies.

Officials said in a statement on Sunday that 29 people were taken to hospitals and received medical assistance after the protests.

"No one required further hospital treatment," the statement said.

The head of the Kremlin's human rights council, Valery Fadeyev, said most of those detained in Moscow had been released.

He also defended the detentions, saying the protests were illegal and took place during a coronavirus pandemic. "I see no violations whatsoever," he said. "These events are illegal."

He also accused TikTok, a Chinese video-sharing app beloved by teens, of encouraging minors to participate in Saturday's protests. "This calls for an investigation," he said.

Moscow also accused US diplomats of publishing protest routes in advance of the demonstrations and of promoting a "march on the Kremlin" and said the representatives of the US embassy would be summoned by the foreign ministry.

A US mission spokeswoman said US embassies and consulates around the world routinely issue safety messages to US citizens.

"This is a common, routine practice of many countries' diplomatic missions," she told AFP.

The OVD Info monitor said police seized at least 3,435 demonstrators across dozens of cities, with 1,360 people detained in Moscow and 523 in the second city Saint Petersburg.

Saturday's protests took on an unprecedented geographic scale, spanning more than 100 cities across the country. Around 20,000 people protested in Moscow and more than 10,000 in Saint Petersburg, according to AFP estimates.

Leonid Volkov, head of Navalny's regional network, praised the turnout.

"I am certainly proud, very impressed and inspired," Mr Volkov told AFP. Navalny's team is hoping to stage a new rally next weekend.

Mr Putin's most charismatic critic was detained at a Moscow airport on arrival a week ago from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent.

He is the target of several criminal probes and supporters fear authorities are planning to sentence him to a long prison term to silence him.