Arrested Russian opposition leader goes on hunger strike to protest ...

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - A Russian opposition leader accused of hitting a policeman has gone on a hunger strike to protest his detainment, which he believes is politically motivated, his lawyer said Wednesday. Maxim Reznik, leader of the Yabloko party in St. Petersburg, began the hunger strike on Tuesday, when a city court ruled that he should remain in custody for two months while the case is under investigation, attorney Boris Gruzd said. Reznik was arrested before an anti-Kremlin protest was to take place Monday, led by former chess champion Garry Kasparov. Reznik is a St. Petersburg organizer of the protests held by Kasparov's opposition coalition. He has denied the charge against him. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. "We'll do everything necessary to defend Reznik," Gruzd said.

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