Reax to 1,500 arrests at Navalny rallies across Russia

Police in Moscow have arrested nearly 1,500 people following a day of demonstrations throughout Russia calling for freedom for imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Navalny's health is reportedly in severe decline after three weeks of hunger-striking, according to a group that monitors political detentions.

The largest of Wednesday's protests took place in Moscow, where thousands marched through the streets of the centre city.

But many Russians on Thursday seemed sceptical about the protests.

"(I view Navalny) negatively. If you look at the essence of it, Navalny is basically the same as the current authorities. He's just offering to change the faces in power and his politics will be exactly the same, and possibly even more aggressive domestically," one man told the Associated Press.

Navalny's team called for the unsanctioned demonstrations after weekend reports that his health is deteriorating and his life was in danger.

Navalny's organization called for the Moscow protesters to assemble on Manezh Square, just outside the Kremlin walls, but police blocked it off.

Instead, a large crowd gathered at the nearby Russian State Library and another lined Tverskaya Street, a main avenue that leads to the square.

Both groups then moved through the streets.

Some of the people arrested were seized before the protests even began, including two top Navalny associates in Moscow.

"Before, authorities were trying to suppress protests using force, now they try to use a combined tactic," said Abbas Gallyamov, an independent analyst.

"They combine pressure on opposition leaders - recognition of the FBK (Anti-Corruption Foundation headed by Navalny allies) as an extremist organisation - with mitigation of measures regarding protesters."

Navalny's team called the nationwide protests for the same day that President Vladimir Putin gave his annual state-of-the-nation address.

Western governments have been harshly critical of Navalny's treatment and have called for his release.

Image credit: AP