Russians vow protests as activist jailed

THE Russian protest movement yesterday vowed there would be new demonstrations this week after a leading anti-Kremlin activist was given a fresh jail sentence following the latest mass rally against Vladimir Putin.

Thousands took to the streets on Saturday in the second mass protest in a month, increasing pressure on Putin for reform amid the biggest protest wave in Russia since the 1990s.

“The Reckoning”, the opposition New Times weekly wrote on its front cover, featuring a picture depicting Putin dressed as a Christmas gnome alongside leaders ousted in the Arab Spring like former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.