• Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, shouts slogans as he attends a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests take place across the country. Photo: Evgeny Feldman, AP / Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Photo: Evgeny Feldman, AP
Image 1of/33

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 33
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, shouts slogans as he attends a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests take place across the country.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, shouts slogans as he attends a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests take place across the country.
Photo: Evgeny Feldman, AP
Image 2 of 33
A demonstrator with a Russian national flag wrapped in his shoulders shouts slogans during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
A demonstrator with a Russian national flag wrapped in his shoulders shouts slogans during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide ... more
Photo: Aleksander Khitrov, AP
Image 3 of 33
Demonstrators shout slogans holding a poster which reads "Elections without me! Strike." during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Demonstrators shout slogans holding a poster which reads "Elections without me! Strike." during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide ... more
Photo: Aleksander Khitrov, AP
Image 4 of 33
A demonstrator holds a poster which reads "I have no one to choose!! Strike." during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
A demonstrator holds a poster which reads "I have no one to choose!! Strike." during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide ... more
Photo: Aleksander Khitrov, AP
Image 5 of 33
Image 6 of 33
Demonstrators shout slogans with posters which read "I do not recognize Putin's election" and "Putin devours the future of Russia" during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Demonstrators shout slogans with posters which read "I do not recognize Putin's election" and "Putin devours the future of Russia" during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian ... more
Photo: Aleksander Khitrov, AP
Image 7 of 33
Police guard outside the office of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Police guard outside the office of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 8 of 33
Police guard outside the office of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Police guard outside the office of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 9 of 33
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, is detained by police officers in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, is detained by police officers in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's ... more
Photo: Evgeny Feldman, AP
Image 10 of 33
Image 11 of 33
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in the background, is detained by police officers in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in the background, is detained by police officers in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following ... more
Photo: Evgeny Feldman, AP
Image 12 of 33
A protester waves a Russian flag during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
A protester waves a Russian flag during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ... more
Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP
Image 13 of 33
People gather as police stand next to the protesters during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
People gather as police stand next to the protesters during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 14 of 33
Young protesters gather during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Young protesters gather during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's ... more
Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP
Image 15 of 33
Image 16 of 33
A protester waves a Russian flag during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
A protester waves a Russian flag during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 17 of 33
Protesters gather during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Protesters gather during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 18 of 33
Policemen guard outside a metro station before a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Policemen guard outside a metro station before a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 19 of 33
Young protesters hold a Russian flag during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy. less
Young protesters hold a Russian flag during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 20 of 33
Image 21 of 33
Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy in the March 18 election. less
Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ... more
Photo: Andrew Lubimov, AP
Image 22 of 33
Young protesters attend a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his presidential candidacy in the upcoming March 18 elections. less
Young protesters attend a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Opposition politician Alexey Navalny calls for nationwide protests following Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban his ... more
Photo: Andrew Lubimov, AP
Image 23 of 33
Protesters gather during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests demonstrations called by him took place across the country. less
Protesters gather during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 24 of 33
Protesters attend a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protest demonstrations called by him took place across the country. He has called on supporters to continue the demonstrations despite his arrest Sunday. less
Protesters attend a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protest demonstrations called by him took place across the country. He ... more
Photo: Andrew Lubimov, AP
Image 25 of 33
Image 26 of 33
Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests demonstrations called by him took place across the country. less
Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 27 of 33
A protester offers a flower at a policeman during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests demonstrations called by him took place across the country. less
A protester offers a flower at a policeman during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 28 of 33
Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests demonstrations called by him took place across the country. less
Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 29 of 33
Protesters with Russian flags gather during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests demonstrations called by him took place across the country. less
Protesters with Russian flags gather during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny ... more
Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP
Image 30 of 33
Image 31 of 33
Young protesters hold a Russian flag as others hold up banners, one at center reads: "Two terms are the Constitutional Limit", during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protest demonstrations called by him took place across the country. He has called on supporters to continue the demonstrations despite his arrest Sunday. less
Young protesters hold a Russian flag as others hold up banners, one at center reads: "Two terms are the Constitutional Limit", during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Russian ... more
Photo: Andrew Lubimov, AP
Image 32 of 33
A protester holds up flowers during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests demonstrations called by him took place across the country. less
A protester holds up flowers during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny ... more
Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP
Image 33 of 33

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was wrestled to the ground and forced into a police vehicle Sunday as he headed to a Moscow protest that was part of a day of nationwide demonstrations.

Navalny, the most prominent foe of President Vladimir Putin, organized the protests to urge a boycott of Russia's March 18 presidential election, in which Putin is sure to win a fourth term.

The anti-corruption campaigner was denied permission to be a presidential candidate because of an embezzlement conviction in a case widely seen as politically motivated.

Sunday's protests gathered crowds through the sprawling nation despite frigid temperatures. Navalny's web page showed a small group of protesters in remote Yakutsk, where it was minus 45 Celsius (minus 49 Fahrenheit).

A crowd that police estimated at 1,000 people assembled in central Moscow's Pushkin Square, brandishing placards reading "They've stolen the election from us" and "Elections without Navalny are fake."

Latest videos

Now Playing:
  • Now Playing
     N.C. Woman Murdered Husband's Co-Worker Because She Mistakenly Thought They Were Having an Affair People
  • UN: deadlock over use of chemical weapons in Syrian civil war Euronews
  • CIA Director: NKorea Closer to Nuclear Weapons Associated Press
  • Report: Ivanka Trump Part Of Effort To Potentially Replace John Kelly GeoBeats
  • Women's March Sets Its Sights On Ballot Box Associated Press
  • Trump Arrives at Pentagon Amid Budget Battles Associated Press
  • Catalan parliament holds first meeting, voting in separatist MP as speaker Euronews
  • Biden: We're Undergoing 'A Battle For The Soul Of The Nation' GeoBeats
  • Thousands evacuated as Philippine volcano nears eruption Euronews
  • Legendary Musician Eric Clapton Says He Is Going Deaf Wibbitz
  • James Franco Accused of Inappropriate Behavior By Five Women Entertainment Weekly
  • Is an Oprah Presidency a “Slayed or Shade”? Essence
  • House GOP Leaders Look Ahead to 2018 Agenda Associated Press
  • Did Steve Bannon ever matter? Mic
  • Nissan Brain-to-Vehicle technology redefines future of driving - Vehicle Prototype and Action Prediction Validation AutomotoTV
  • Executive order targets gun shows Fox5
  • Trump Mocks Kim Jong Un: My Nuclear Button is 'Much Bigger' Wibbitz
  • Teen Kills Family in New Year's Eve Shooting Time
  • Fire at Rooftop Mumbai Restaurant Leaves 15 Dead Associated Press
  • Boiling Water Turns to Snow in Record N.H. Cold Associated Press
globe

EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Get breaking news and the day's top stories in your inbox

Navalny was arrested as he walked down a main thoroughfare to the demonstration. Video on his YouTube channel showed Navalny struggling with police before they pushed him to the ground and then into a bus.

He called on supporters to continue the demonstrations despite his arrest.

"They have detained me. This doesn't mean anything," he said on Twitter. "You didn't come out for me, but for your future."

Hours earlier, police raided Navalny's Moscow headquarters, where there is a studio for live video transmissions. One broadcaster on the stream said police apparently were using a grinder to try to get access to the studio.

The anchors said police said they had come because of an alleged bomb threat.

One anchor, Dmitri Nizovtsev, was detained by police during the raid, according to video broadcast by the headquarters. Navalny's Moscow coordinator, Nikolai Lyaskin, also was detained Sunday, the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Demonstrations were reported throughout the country. Local news reports said about 1,000 Navalny supporters were marching in St. Petersburg.

The OVD-Info group, which monitors political arrests, reported scores of demonstrators had been detained at protests in cities including Murmansk, Ufa and Kemerovo.

Several hundred demonstrators assembled in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, complaining both of Putin's rule and of Navalny's exclusion from the March 18 presidential election.

"They took these elections away from us, they took away our votes. Our candidate was not allowed to run," said Vladivostok demonstrator Dmitri Kutyaev.

Navalny rose to prominence with detailed reports about corruption among top Russian officials, which he popularized on social media to circumvent state control of television.

Last year, he called for two demonstrations that attracted people throughout the country, undermining critics' claims that he appeals only to a narrow segment of prosperous Russian urbanites.