Thousands march in Moscow calling for Alexei Navalny to be freed

People hold a Russian flag during the opposition rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

Thousands of supporters of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have marched in central Moscow as part of nationwide demonstrations calling for his freedom.

More than 1,000 people were arrested across the country in connection with the protests, according to a human rights group that monitors political repression.