MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police detained more than 800 people protesting against planned increases to the pension age on Sunday, a rights group said, disrupting demonstrations against an unpopular change that has hurt President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating.
The protests, organized by jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his supporters, were a challenge to the authorities who were hoping for a high turnout at regional elections also being held on Sunday, despite anger over the pension move.
Footage of the protests, which were held in more than 80 towns and cities, showed the police sometimes using force to disperse rallies, beating participants with batons and dragging them away. The authorities refused to authorize most of the meetings, declaring them illegal.
It said most of the detentions - 354 - had been made in St Petersburg where authorities had initially authorized a rally before reversing the decision. The interior ministry was cited by the Interfax news agency as saying police had made around 100 detentions in St Petersburg and “several” in Moscow.
The proposed pension changes, which are currently going through parliament, have shaved around 15 percentage points off Putin’s popularity rating and are the most unpopular government measure since a 2005 move to scrap Soviet-era benefits.
History often has a way of repeating itself, sometimes by shaping similar personalities that seem destined to converge
The Gaza war started on October 7, 2023, following the Hamas attack on a southern Israeli border town. Some 1200 people died, while Hamas took 250 Israelis as hostages.
On his second death anniversary, we pay our deepest respect and heartfelt tribute to General Lionel Balagalle, an illustrious son of Sri Lanka, a noble soldier, and an exemplary leader whose vision, dedication, and humility have left an indelible mark on the Sri Lanka Army and our nation.
All passengers departing from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will be allowed to check-in 4 hours before their scheduled departure time.
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