Tens of thousands stage anti-Kremlin protest in Russia's far east

Rally in Khabarovsk city attracts more than 15,000 people protesting against arrest of Governor Sergei Furgal.

18 July 2020 GMT+3

Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Russia's far eastern city of Khabarovsk have taken to the streets, protesting against the arrest of the region's governor on charges of involvement in multiple murders.

Local media estimated the rally in the city 6,100km (3,800 miles) east of Moscow on Saturday attracted more than 15,000 people.

Khabarovsk's Governor Sergey Furgal was arrested two weeks ago and flown to Moscow where he was put in jail for two months.

The huge rallies in the city of Khabarovsk on the border with China present a growing concern for the Kremlin, observers say, and come after President Vladimir Putin this month oversaw a controversial vote that allows him to extend his hold on power until 2036.

It is the second large-scale protest in the region over the past seven days, following on from a rally in the city centre last Saturday.