‘Detention of protesters not repression’

MOSCOW: The detention of protesters at the recent "illegitimate rallies" in Russia is a police measure against law violators, not an act of repression, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitr y Peskov said.

The ongoing protests first broke out across Russia on Januar y 23 when thousands of people took to the streets against the detention of opposition figure and Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny.

Addressing a daily briefing on Thursday, Peskov said that claims of repression were emotionally charged, and added that there were multiple direct assaults on police officers during these demonstrations in support of Navalny.

While overcrowded detention centres are under pressure, all possible measures are currently being taken to tackle paperwork problems, he said.