At least 350 people arrested during protests against Russia's election

During protests to boycott the Russian presidential election held on Sunday, nearly 350 individuals, including Alexei Navalny, who called for the protests, were arrested. Approximately one thousand protesters demonstrated in central Moscow on Sunday, and Mr. Navalny was arrested by police shortly after he joined the protesters and was taken to a bus. After his arrest, he tweeted: 'I have been arrested, but it doesn't matter. Come to Tverskaya Street. Your coming is not for me, it is for yourselves and your future.' Hours later, Navalny tweeted again that the police had released him and were taking him to a metro station. However, he stated that he must attend a meeting regarding unspecified charges. After being legally barred from participating in the presidential election, Navalny had called on all protesters to stage widespread demonstrations to boycott the elections. The protests took place on Sunday in Moscow and several other cities in Russia. Russian police warned that as the presidential election date approaches, actions against protesters who 'appear to have violated the law' will become stricter. Reports indicate that 350 people were arrested across Moscow during the protests, including 66 in Ufa, 65 in Volgograd, 51 in Cheboksary, 31 in Kemerovo, 23 in Murmansk, 19 in St. Petersburg, and 16 in Moscow. Most of the detainees were released hours later. Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999, serving two terms as president and one as prime minister, is a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, and if victorious, will remain in power for another six years. The Russian presidential election is scheduled for March 18, and Kremlin critics say that other candidates have been handpicked to ensure a mere facade for Putin's victory. According to reports from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Interfax, a court in Moscow ruled to shut down Navalny's campaign funding sources.