Russian police on Saturday arrested hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in temperatures as low as minus-50 C (minus-58 F) to demand the release of Alexei Navalny, the country's top opposition figure.

Protests were held early Saturday (January 23) in Russia's Far East, Siberia and the Urals including Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk, Kazan and Chita, where several thousand turned out.

Video captured at a protest in Kazan in southwest Russia shows protesters being dragged along the icy ground by security forces.

Russia's handling of the protests were criticised by the US and the UK governments.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted: "The US strongly condemns the use of harsh tactics against peaceful protesters and journalists in Russia today. We call on Russia to release those detained for exercising their rights, including Aleksey Navalny, and to credibly investigate his poisoning."

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted: "The UK condemns the Russian authorities’ use of violence against peaceful protesters and journalists. We call on @GovernmentRF to respect its international commitments on human rights in @coe and @OSCE, and release citizens detained during peaceful demonstrations."

This footage was filmed and produced 23 January 2021.

Russian police on Saturday arrested hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in temperatures as low as minus-50 C (minus-58 F) to demand the release of Alexei Navalny, the country's top opposition figure.
Protests were held early Saturday in the Far East, Siberia and the Urals including Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk, Kazan and Chita where several thousand turned out.
The video shows the brutal detentions of people who are literally dragged along the ground. Neither women nor children were spared. Several people in helmets and bulletproof vests detain one guy, knocking him several times in the snow and beating him at the same time.
Location: Kazan, Russia