Russian police raid Kremlin opposition group offices
The Open Russia group financed by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky said the police searches were taking place as part of an old criminal investigation into Yukos, a defunct oil giant once owned by Khodorkovsky.
Some opposition activists have joined forces to compete in local elections across Russia on Sunday as part of a group called the United Democrats, hoping to get a toehold in regional politics that is dominated by the United Russia ruling party.
Police carried out searches at the group's offices as well as at the homes of seven people in the regions of Vladimir, Ivanovo and Tatarstan who are either competing at the elections or helping with the campaigns, Open Russia said.
Police also searched the editorial office in Moscow of MBKh, a media outlet financed by Khodorkovsky, it said.
