Opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, being carted away by police on Saturday

Long-ruling Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, is to be inaugurated today after winning a fourth term in office. 48 hours earlier, thousands of people across Russia who concluded that the event would be an eyesore came out to protest.




For their efforts, 1,600 of the protesters were arrested by police. Cossacks, who are descendants of the horsemen who protected the Russian empire, were specially brought in by the authorities to help intimidate the demonstrators.



41-year-old opposition leader, Mr Navalny, has been charged with breaking rules on public gatherings, and resisting police. He is to appear in court on Friday.