A small group of people wering white ribbons, the symbol of the anti-Putin protesters, was detained last night after they attempted to hold an unauthorised gathering beside the statue of the poet Alexander Pushkin in central Moscow, Séamus Martin reports.
Russian media said 16 people were released after being told by police they had breached the law on public order regarding demonstrations. The organisation For Fair Elections has postponed until Saturday what it hopes will be a major protest over the poll.
Russia, meanwhile, has rebuked US ambassador Michael McFaul after he expressed his concern at the detention of protesters on Monday. The foreign ministry responded to his tweet by itself tweeting that the US had used less humane methods when dispersing anti-Wall Street.