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This Is What a Nationwide Protest Against the Russian Government Looks Like

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Russia Protest
Protesters gather at Marsivo Field in St.Petersburg, Russia, on March 26, 2017.Dmitri Lovetsky—AP
By Kenneth Bachor and Mahita Gajanan

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested Sunday as he was heading to walking to Moscow’s Pushkin Square, where thousands of demonstrators protested against the government.

Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner leading the charge against Russian President Vladimir Putin, had called for the protests along with his Foundation for Fighting Corruption, according to the The Associated Press. He was one of hundreds that were arrested and detained.

Across Russia, thousands took to the streets to publicly demonstrate their dissatisfaction with government corruption. Several people hung trainers — a symbol of corruption — from lampposts while others showed up with their faces painted green in reference to Navalny, who had a green antiseptic liquid thrown onto his face by an assailant.

APTOPIX Russia Protest
Alexei Navalny is detained by police in downtown Moscow, Russia, on March 26, 2017.Evgeny Feldman—AP
Russia Protest
Protesters gather at Marsivo Field in St.Petersburg, Russia, on March 26, 2017. Dmitri Lovetsky—AP
Russia Protest
A police officer detains a protester in Moscow, Russia, on March 26, 2017. Ivan Sekretarev—AP
Opposition rally in Moscow
Russian riot policemen stand guard as people take part in an opposition rally in Moscow, on March 26, 2017.Sefa Karacan—Anadolu Agency—Getty Images
Russia Protests
People hang trainers, which have become a symbol of corruption, from a lamppost in Moscow, Russia, on March 26, 2017. Ivan Vodopianov—AP
RUSSIA-POLITICS-OPPOSITION-PROTEST
Opposition supporters participate in an anti-corruption rally in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on March 26, 2017.Olga Maltseva—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX Russia Protest
Riot policemen detain a journalist during a protest rally in St.Petersburg, Russia, on March 26, 2017. Dmitri Lovetsky—AP
Opposition supporters attend a rally in Moscow, Russia
Opposition supporters attend a rally in Moscow, Russia, on March 26, 2017. Maxim Shemetov—Reuters

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Write to Mahita Gajanan at mahita.gajanan@time.com