Thousands of people attended an opposition rally in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square. The Bolotnaya rally comes on the first anniversary of a mass antigovernment protest that ended in riots and the arrests of hundreds of demonstrators protesting Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency. The rally is calling for the release of over two dozen protesters detained since last year. (12 PHOTOS)
Thousands Rally In Russia For ‘Bolotnaya’ Prisoners
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A man holds a portrait of opposition figure Aleksei Navalny.
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The opposition said “tens of thousands” had turned out in Moscow for the rally, while Moscow police put the figure at some 8,000.
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Badges with the slogan "The Case Against Navalny Is The Case Against Me" are seen before being distributed.
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"We are not to be intimidated," said Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.
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A gay-rights activist (center) scuffles with Orthodox Christian activists.
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Police detain an Orthodox Christian activist after a scuffle with gay-rights activists.
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A Navalny supporter
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Aleksei Navalny
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Police trucks are parked on Bolotnaya Square ahead of the protest.