1,300 detained during Russian opposition protests

Police in Moscow detained more than 1,300 people in a day of protests against alleged irregularities in the run-up to local elections, according to an independent group that monitors crackdowns on demonstrations.

Officers clad in riot gear used batons against demonstrators who had gathered outside Moscow City Hall on July 27 and roughly detained people.

The crackdown continued after the protesters moved to other locations in the Russian capital, chanting slogans such as "Russia without Putin!"

The United States, the European Union, and human rights groups denounced what they called the "disproportionate” and “indiscriminate” use of force against the demonstrators, who were protesting against the refusal of election officials to register several opposition figures as candidates in municipal polls in September.

Opposition leaders said the ban was an attempt to deny them the chance to challenge pro-government candidates.

Meanwhile, police on July 28 detained an opposition politician as he was buying food for protesters.

Opposition candidate Dmitry Gudkov was detained as he was coming out of a shop where he was buying food for demonstrators still being held by authorities.

It was not immediately clear whether Gudkov faces formal charges.

Gudkov had been among several opposition figures and would-be candidates who were detained by police ahead of or during the July 27 protest but released later that evening.