Russia arrests thousands of protesters

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Russian authorities on Sunday carried out the largest crackdown in Moscow in a decade, detaining nearly 1,400 people during a political protest. Security forces defended the heavy-handed response, saying the protest was unauthorized.

What sparked the unrest? Electoral commissions in Moscow barred several opposition party members from running in city council elections slated for Sept. 8. Russian democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza described the commissions as “bodies that are supposed to act as impartial arbiters in administering elections but are in reality the first line of defense for the incumbent government” of President Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party.

Dig deeper: Russia’s oppression extends beyond politics. Read a report from WORLD Digital’s Julia Seymour on an evangelism ban in the country.

Onize Oduah

Onize is WORLD’s Africa reporter and deputy global desk chief. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate and earned a journalism degree from Minnesota State University–Moorhead. Onize resides in Abuja, Nigeria.

@onize_ohiks