RUSSIA CRACKS DOWN ON NAVALNY SUPPORTERS BEFORE PROTESTS

Russian police have cracked down on supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny ahead of nationwide protests set for Wednesday, Hannah Wagner reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Employees of his anti-corruption foundation in the Siberian city of Kurgan published a video on social networks on Tuesday showing their coordinator, Alexei Schwarz, being taken into custody.

The video shows two men in civilian clothing dragging Schwarz out of a building and then forcing him into a waiting car as his girlfriend looks on.

Navalny's supporters also reported arrests in St Petersburg, Tver and Volgograd.

Protests are planned in more than 100 Russian cities and towns on Wednesday to demand authorities take action to improve the 44-year-old's ailing health.

The opposition politician took to Instagram on Tuesday to thank supporters around the world for their expressions of solidarity.

Navalny, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt last year, has complained of severe back pain, paralysis in his arms and legs, and lack of medical care. Almost three weeks ago, he went on a hunger strike in an attempt to obtain treatment from an independent doctor.

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