Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the capital, Moscow, after opposition candidates were canceled in September's local elections.

Police have detained at least 800 demonstrators, along with opposition politician Lyubov Sobol, who has called on the public to protest, demanding independent and free elections.

Russian officials say oppositions seeking to compete for local elections in Moscow have failed to gather the necessary number of real signatures to run while opponents, however, deny these claims. (ILKHA)