St. Petersburg Showdown

Russian riot police clashed with about 500 demonstrators Sunday in St. Petersburg.  The situation escalated when the time the government had allowed for the rally expired but protesters continued to call for President Vladimir Putin to step down.

Reuters:

The violence began as some 500 demonstrators calling for the resignation of President Vladimir Putin moved towards a railway station after the end of an officially permitted protest.

Police wearing blue urban combat uniforms and crash helmets moved into the crowd, arrested some of the protesters and pushed others to the ground and hit them with batons, a Reuters witness said.

“Stop the beating,” demonstrators shouted at the police. “Fascists. How much did Putin pay you?”

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