MOSCOW, 23 January, 2021 (TON): Police detained several protestors and warned to immediately suppress the demonstrations in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Protests in support of the jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny kicked off in Khabarovsk, the southeastern Russian city on Saturday.

After the rallies got underway, several dozen demonstrators were detained shortly, Navalny’s Headquarters reported.

The protests began first at Khabarovsk, but marches are planned in more than 90 cities throughout Russia on Saturday.

The rallies are going ahead despite police warning to be suppressed.

The protestors are demanding the release of Navalny, who got arrested on his return to Russia from Germany following a near fatal poisoning with a nerve agent and handed a 30 day jail sentence for violating the terms of suspended sentence in 2014 on fraud charges.

The 44 year old says the charges are politically motivated.

The US, the European Union, France and Canada have urged his release. EU has also imposed sanctions.

The protests in Khabarovsk are also focused on the arrest of the city's popular former governor, Sergei Furgal.