Russian Protestors Rally on Putins Birthday

[Tia]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/07/russian-protesters-rally-vladimir-putins-birthday/

by Alec Luhn, St Petersburg

7 October 2017 • 4:10pm

 

Police detained more than 100 supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny

on Saturday as thousands rallied nationwide on President Vladimir Putin's 65th birthday,

calling for the leader to retire. 

Mr Putin, who has now reached the official retirement age of lower-ranking state employees,

is widely expected to run again in next year's presidential election and enjoys a high approval rating.

Mr Navalny has declared his intention to run in the election next March and was campaigning in

provincial cities as part of his long-shot bid for the presidency. 

He was arrested late last month and a court last week sentenced him to 20 days in jail on charges

of repeatedly violating a law on organising public meetings.