TODAY: 68 people detained at Dec 31 rally including opposition leaders Nemtsov and Limonov; Viktor Bout reportedly rejects ‘plea bargain’; Khodorkovsky’s son speaks of personal vendetta against his father; Belarus continues opposition crackdown. Weather brings yet more chaos to Moscow region; officials feel Putin’s wrath; jets grounded after explosion kills three; odd snow; New Year’s Health warning

Police have detained at least 130 protesters at New Year’s Eve rallies in Moscow and St. Petersburg for the protection of the right to assemble.  Rallies of this kind were held in more than 70 Russian cities on December 31.  Opposition stalwart Boris Nemtsov was among 68 people arrested at an unauthorized rally in a central Moscow square.  Other prominent activists Konstantin Kosyakin and Ilya Yashin received a ten-day and five-day jail sentence respectively, under the same charges of disobedience towards police.  Apparently a Moscow court refused to hear the testimony of 13 witnesses who claimed that police had themselves infringed the law during the rally.  Other Russia coalition leader Eduard Limonov was also held by police.