'150 demonstrators against Russia's pension plan fixed'

moscow - Thousands of supporters of the Russian opposition leader Alexej Navalni, who himself is serving a prison sentence, have taken to the streets on Sunday in protest to raise the pensionable age. The organizers of the protest reported that the police certainly arrested 150 activists.

The demonstrations coincide with the ballot in 26 of the 85 regions. The voters can, among other things, elect governors and local parliaments. A new mayor is elected in Moscow.

The government of President Vladimir Putin wants to increase the retirement age for men from 60 to 65 years and for women from 55 to 60 years. The average life expectancy in Russia is 66 years for men and 77 years for women.

Opposition leader Navalni was sentenced to 30 days in prison for a previous demonstration that the authorities had banned.