Former chess champion Garry Kasparov has been arrested at a protest outside a Moscow court.

Inside the courtroom, the feminist Russian punk-rock group Pussy Riot were convicted of "hooliganism" which the judge said was driven by religious hatred. The case relates to an incident in March when members of the group staged a protest against Russian leader Vladimir Putin by singing a protest song inside a Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow.

As two-year prison sentences were handed down to three members of Pussy Riot, many protesters outside the courtroom were being arrested including Garry Kasparov, who retired from competitive chess in 2005 to support anti-Putin political movements within Russia.

An update at Kasparov's Facebook page said, "Garry Kasparov has just been arrested outside the Moscow courthouse where the Pussy Riot trial is taking place. He was not there to protest, simply to attend, and the police cornered him and dragged him into the police van. This photo shows the police assaulting him inside the van. (Photo by Olaf Koens).

Kasparov being forcibly detained (and allegedly beaten)



Later updates added, "We just spoke to Garry on the phone. He is at the police station. He was beaten but says he is okay. He isn't sure what will happen next. It seems the police are waiting for orders from above. He says he was standing calmly speaking with journalists when police pushed through and grabbed him".

"Incredibly, Moscow police say they are going to go forward with investigating a "biting incident of a police officer" during Kasparov's arrest! Reached by phone a few minutes ago, Garry called it "nonsense". He was simply speaking to reporters when the police dragged him away and assaulted him in the police van. It appears the police are looking for a way to justify the violent arrest".

Members of Pussy Riot



Video footage of Kasparov's arrest can be found at this BBC news report.

UPDATE: Garry Kasparov tweeted: "I am out of police custody, going to emergency room to check my injuries and to prove that I am not drunk or biting anyone!"

UPDATE 2: More video footage of Kasparov's arrest.











