Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 29 January 2018

Russian opposition leader arrested amid election protests

By JIM HEINTZ After that gathering dis-
Associated Press persed, columns of protest-
MOSCOW (AP) — Protest- ers took off in several direc-
ers gathered across Russia tions. One group skirted
Sunday to support opposi- the Kremlin, then headed
tion leader Alexei Navalny's down the Novy Arbat, a
call to boycott the March prime shopping and en-
presidential election, and tertainment area, and to
Navalny himself was ar- the riverside government
rested while walking to the headquarters building in-
Moscow demonstration. formally called the Russian
Many of the crowds that White House.
turned out in generally frig- Shouting "Putin is a thief,"
id weather skewed sharply some of the protesters
young, apparently reflect- threw handfuls of snow
ing growing discontent through the high spiked
among Russians who have fence surrounding the
lived most or all of their lives building. Police did not in-
under President Vladimir terfere, a contrast to their
Putin, who came to power typically quick and harsh
on New Year's Eve 1999. responses to unauthorized
"As long as I've been alive, gatherings.
Putin has always been in. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, attends a rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, The OVD-Info organization,
I'm tired of nothing being Jan. 28, 2018. Navalny was arrested Sunday in Moscow while walking with protesters, as protests which monitors political re-
changed," said 19-year-old take place across the country. pression, reported that 257
Vlad Ivanov, one of about (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman) people were arrested in the
1,500 protesters who as- Moscow's Pushkin Square. valny organized last year. protesters in remote Ya- demonstrations throughout
sembled in St. Petersburg. The anti-corruption cam- The size and scope of the kutsk, where it was minus the country.
Navalny, Putin's most prom- paigner was denied per- earlier protests, which took 45 Celsius (minus 49 Fahren- Hours before the Mos-
inent foe, organized the mission to be a presidential place in provincial cities heit). cow protest, police raided
protests to urge a boycott candidate because of an regarded as the center of A crowd that police esti- Navalny's headquarters,
of Russia's March 18 presi- embezzlement conviction Putin's support, rattled the mated at 1,000 people, where there is a studio for
dential election, in which in a case widely seen as Kremlin. but appeared larger, as- live video transmissions.
Putin is sure to win a fourth politically motivated. Protests were reported in sembled in central Push- One broadcaster on the
term. No figures were available dozens of cities, from the kin Square, brandishing stream said police appar-
He was wrestled to the for how many people par- Pacific Coast to the Bal- placards reading "They've ently were using a power
ground and forced into a ticipated in the protests, tic Sea exclave of Kalinin- stolen the election from us" grinder tool to try to get
police bus as he walked to- but the turnout was clearly grad. Navalny's web page and "Elections without Na- into the studio. q
ward the demonstration on smaller than for rallies Na- showed a small group of valny are fake."

Ex-Catalan leader to ask judge's OK to attend parliament

By JOSEPH WILSON ruled Saturday that Puig- plans by Catalan separatist
Associated Press demont must be present lawmakers to try to re-elect
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — at parliament to be cho- Puigdemont without him
Catalonia's fugitive ex-pres- sen as the region's chief. It being physically present,
ident Carles Puigdemont also said he must ask for a perhaps addressing the
will soon request permission judge's permission to do so. chamber via video.
from a Spanish judge to at- Puigdemont fled to Bel- The court also ruled the in-
tend a parliamentary ses- gium after Catalonia's vestiture of Puigdemont
sion to form a new regional parliament made an un- would be suspended with-
government, a separatist successful declaration of out the previous authoriza-
lawmaker says. independence on Oct. 27 tion of a judge "even if he is
Josep Rull told Catalunya in violation of Spain's Con- physically in the chamber."
Radio on Sunday that Puig- stitution. He is wanted in Polls consistently show that
demont will do that in the Spain on possible rebellion most Catalans want the
next 24 hours to attend and sedition charges and right to decide the region’s
Tuesday's investiture de- Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont addresses the is likely to be arrested if he future, but are evenly divid-
media after a meeting with the President of the Parliament of
bate in Barcelona. Catalonia Roger Torrent in Brussels. returns from Brussels. ed over splitting from Spain.
Spain's Constitutional Court (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) The court's ruling quashed q