Russian police pushed dozens of anti-Kremlin protestors to the ground and beat them with batons at the end of a rally in tourist heart of St Petersburg today.
Around 500 demonstrators shouting slogans calling for the resignation of President Vladimir Putin moved towards a train station after the end of the protest which had attracted around 3,000 people.
Police moved into the crowd, arrested some of the protesters and pushed others onto the ground and hit them with batons, a witness said.
"Stop the beating," other demonstrators shouted at police. "Fascists. How much did Putin pay you?"
The police herded around 150 protesters into police vans to drive them away. They continued to hit some of the protesters with batons inside the vans.
A protest planned for Moscow yesterday was blocked by police who arrested around 170 people.
Activists had planned to gather at a city centre square about half a mile from the Kremlin to protest at what they say is Mr Putin's suppression of democratic freedoms ahead of presidnetial elections in 2008.
The protesters have marginal influence in Russia. The vast majority of voters back Mr Putin, who has overseen rising incomes and political stability. Kremlin loyalists say the protesters are dangerous extremists plotting a revolution with the aid of exiles some of whom are extremely wealthy.