Moscow set for massive rally

DHAKA: Thousands of anti-government protesters are expected to march through the Russian capital Moscow, demanding fresh elections and a new president.

The march comes after a day after police raided the homes of several prominent activists.

Last week, President Vladimir Putin signed a new law increasing fines for those who hold unsanctioned protests.

Mr Putin won a third presidential term in March despite protests over alleged fraud in December`s parliamentary vote.

Tuesday`s rally is the first since his return to office and correspondents say he appears to be taking a harder line against the opposition.

Those targeted by police on Monday included leading opposition activists Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov and Ilya Yashin.

Police also searched the home of Ksenia Sobchak - a well known TV presenter and daughter of Mr Putin`s late mentor and St Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak - who has joined the protest movement.

"People barged in at 8am, gave me no chance to get dressed, robbed the apartment, humiliated me," Ms Sobchak said in a Twitter post.

"I never thought we would return to such repression in this country."

Mr Udaltsov told reporters that police had "rifled through everything, every wardrobe, in the toilet, in the refrigerator. They searched under the beds".

BDST: 1028 HRS, June 12, 2012
Source: BBC
KA