Thousands of Russians hold protests on Putin's birthday

ANKARA Thousands of Russians on Saturday held demonstrations against President Vladimir Putin across the country, which is coincided with his 65th birthday. The demonstrations were organized in many cities, after calls from anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny and other opposition groups to attend to the protests. Protestors carried placards reading "Happy Birthday Putin" and "Russia will be independent" and chanted anti-Putin slogans. Confrontations between protesters and police resulted in the detention of nearly 80 people, according to media reports. Police ramped up security during Saturday's demonstrations. According to police, about 700 people took part in the protests staged in capital Moscow.