Russian police 'raid' opposition leader Alexei Navalny's office
The incident came as supporters of Putin opponent Alexei Navalny begin a nationwide day of protests against authorities.
Sunday 28 January 2018 10:14, UK
Russian police used an angle grinder to force their way into the office of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, according to his spokeswoman.
Images broadcast online by supporters of Mr Navalny showed officers arriving at the Moscow building and beginning to question people.
Mr Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said she thought the raid was designed to shut down the work of the politician's TV studio, which broadcasts bulletins and other videos on YouTube.
However, supporters of Mr Navalny have claimed that police said they were looking into reports there was a bomb in the office.
::
The incident on Sunday morning came as hundreds of the 41-year-old's supporters began a nationwide day of protests against authorities, calling on voters to boycott what they believe will be a rigged presidential election on 18 March.
Last month Mr Navalny was barred from running in the election by Russia's central election commission because of a suspended prison sentence for fraud, but thousands still turned out to endorse him for the presidency during demonstrations across the country.
In a video message addressing his supporters following the commission's decision, Mr Navalny said: "We knew this could happen, and so we have a straightforward, clear plan.
"We announce a boycott of the election.
"The process in which we are called to participate is not a real election. It will feature only Putin and the candidates which he has personally selected."
Despite Mr Navalny's show of defiance, polls show Vladimir Putin is on course for a comfortable re-election which would keep him in office for another six years.
Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that unsanctioned pro-Navalny rallies would lead to "certain consequences".