HRW: Russian police have heavy hands

Russian security forces have taken a heavy hand in response to anti-government demonstrations, said Human Rights Watch. Russian has witnessed anti-government protests in recent months. Election monitors in December suggested State Duma elections were skewed in favor of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. Similar concerns were expressed in a March election that secured a third non-consecutive presidential term of Putin. Sergei Udaltsov, a left-leaning opponent of Putin, said demonstrations against Putin's political dominance would culminate in a mass May 5 protest. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail for his role in opposition demonstrations. Human Rights Watch said Russian authorities "at the highest levels of government" should take steps to ensure basic rights are protected inside the country. Protesters who spoke with the organization said police were "very rough" with anti-government demonstrators. The rights group said more than 100 people were arrested during weekend protests. "All these demonstrations were clearly peaceful," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement from Moscow. "The activists did nothing to provoke the police or necessitate police interference."