This isn't exactly an attempt to destroy the opposition - just annoy the hell out of them. AFP: Police arrested a leader of Russia's liberal opposition on Saturday at the latest protest rally against fraud-tainted parliamentary polls. Officers picked up Sergei Mitrokhin, a leader of the Yabloko party at the end of the protest the party had organised, Yabloko spokesman Igor Yakovlev told AFP. Police said he had refused to obey official instructions, an offence for which he faced a possible fine or 15 days in jail, Yakovlev added. At the start of the protest, Mitrokhin had pushed back metal barriers placed there by police so more demonstrators could join them. Mitrokhin went on trial within hours of being taken to a police station, according to a posting on his Twitter account in which he added: "My request to call witnesses has been denied." Police also arrested party activist Maya Zavialova, who organised the demonstration, because more protestors had attended than the number...(Read Full Post)