Russian opposition activist Lyubov Sobol, an ally of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, was detained by police on Monday after a weekend protest in Moscow, Navalny's spokeswoman said on Twitter. A few thousand Russians took to the streets of Moscow on Saturday to demand free elections to the capital's city legislature on Sept. 8, defying a ban enforced by detentions during previous protests.

Protesters have been calling for the release of activists detained in earlier rallies, and Sobol on Saturday described the arrests as "mayhem," blaming it on the city government. "Lyubov Sobol has also been detained," said Kira Yarmysh, a spokeswoman for Navalny. Sobol was released a few hours later, she tweeted.

Только вышла из ОВД. Задержали в 21:40 на выходе из магазина.



Суд по ч.8 ст.20.2 КОАП РФ за акцию 31.08 против полит.репрессий завтра в Троицком суде



Не боюсь, сдаваться не собираюсь. Призываю всех участвовать в «Умном голосовании», чтобы выкинуть единоросов из Мосгордумы pic.twitter.com/XisREIqFFx — Соболь Любовь (@SobolLubov) September 2, 2019