Thousands of people crowded into Moscow’s Pushkin Square on Sunday for an unsanctioned protest against the Russian government.

It was the biggest gathering in a wave of nationwide protests that were the most extensive show of defiance in years.

Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is leading the opposition to President Vladimir Putin, was arrested while walking from a nearby subway station to the demonstration at Pushkin Square.

State news agency Tass cited Moscow police as saying about 200 people were arrested.