Union for Political Prisoners of Russia Established by Banned Bolshevik Party

MOSCOW – A spokesman for the banned the National Bolshevik party says it has established a union of political prisoners.

Alexander Averin said Sunday about 150 of the party's members have been jailed since 2000, mostly for political pranks against government officials.

The National Bolshevik party, led by dissident writer Eduard Limonov, was outlawed in April as extremist.

The party, whose members wear hammer-and-sickle armbands, says it strives for social and national justice, but also promotes nationalist ideas.

It is part of the Other Russia, a vocal opposition alliance whose rallies often have been violently dispersed by police.