Opposition leaders said they were determined to push ahead. Garry Kasparov, a former world chess champion who has become the most prominent figure in opposition factions loosely allied in the Other Russia coalition, called it “truly amazing” that 2,000 protesters would turn out in Moscow to face 9,000 police and interior ministry troops.

“It shows that the apathy in Russian society is gradually being replaced by very active, vocal protest,” he said.

Many Russians who witnessed the events appeared dismayed by the harsh police crackdown. As an elderly woman comforted a bleeding youth lying on the ground yesterday, a passer-by remarked bitterly, “So this is what they call democracy.”

Yesterday’s violence began when about 500 demonstrators calling for Putin’s resignation moved towards a metro station after an officially permitted protest ended.

Police wearing crash helmets and armed with full-length metal shields and rubber truncheons moved into the crowd, a mixture of people from students to old women.

Police arrested some protesters and pushed others to the ground where they kicked and hit them with their batons. Some chased individuals through the streets. Toronto Star

When the G-8 countries meet in June, how is Canada’s Stephen Harper going to respond? Putin is making a farce of Russia’s elections.