A group of opposition activists have tried to pay for dinner in a restaurant with leaflets – as a protest against food price rises.

The National Bolsheviks’ leaflets blame the government for failing to stop inflation and not using oil revenues to boost people’s welfare.

They called on supporters to “eat in luxury restaurants and not pay the bill”, claiming it was not a crime but a necessity.

But contradicting the plea, protesters targeted a mid-priced restaurant in Moscow. Police detained two of the people involved.

The left-wing National Bolsheviks is a radical movement notorious for its vocal actions often bordering on hooliganism.

In 2005, a court ruled it was an extremist organisation and banned it.