In the second week of protests, on Saturday at least 10,000 protesters marched in the Russian far eastern city of Khabarovsk, calling for the release of a popular regional governor arrested last week on suspicion of murder, reported Reuters.
In 2018, after defeating a rival from the ruling United Russia party, that backs President Vladimir Putin, Sergei Furgal, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party came to power as the regional governor of the Khabarovsk region.
Furgal is currently under pre-trial detention in Moscow after being charged with involvement in planning the murder of several businessmen 15 years ago.
If found guilty, Furgal, could be sentenced with a lifetime in prison.
Furgal has denied the charges.
Protesters filled the city on Saturday afternoon while carrying posters in support of Furgal, some demanding his release, others calling for an open and transparent trial.
The demonstrations come barely three weeks after a landslide referendum victory for Putin on reforms that allow him to stay in power till 2036.
Khabarovsk city mayor’s office said in a statement that the protest was peaceful and there were no detentions.
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