Crackdown in Russia: Kremlin calls anti-Putin protesters ’hooligans’ | DW News

The Kremlin says many of those involved in protests against the jailing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny are “hooligans and provocateurs.“ Spokesman Dmitry Peskov was speaking a day after tens of thousands rallied in cities across Russia to call for Navalny’s release. More than 5000 people were arrested during the demonstrations. Critics accuse the police of using excessive force. They were warned, but they marched anyway: Anti-government protestors all over Russia demanding the release of oppositio