Russian police thwart Kasparov Kremlin protests

POLICE thwarted an anti-Kremlin protest organised by Garry Kasparov’s opposition group yesterday, seizing demonstrators and shoving them into trucks. They detained at least 100 people including the group’s co-leader.

About 10 protesters also were detained in St Petersburg, Russian media reported. There was no sign of former chess champion Kasparov at the chaotic downtown Moscow square where he had vowed to hold a demonstration despite being denied permission.

Kasparov and his allies in the group Other Russia want to draw attention to Russia’s economic troubles and to protest Kremlin plans to extend the presidential term from four years to six.