Russia Detains 150 Anti-Government Protesters In Moscow, St. Petersburg

MOSCOW -- Russian police arrested about 150 people, including two prominent opposition figures, who were trying to take part in unauthorized anti-government protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg on Thursday.

In Moscow, police arrested 54 people in connection with a demonstration at Triumfalnaya Square in the city center, police spokesman Viktor Biryukov told the state news agency RIA Novosti. Eduard Limonov, a leader of the Other Russia movement, was among those taken into custody. He is frequently detained at unsanctioned protests.

In St. Petersburg, police said they arrested about 100 people, including Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister who has become one of the country's most visible opposition figures.

Demonstrators in Moscow unfurled an anti-government banner and also chanted "Russia without Putin," referring to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The demonstrations were the latest in a series of protests that Russian opposition figures call at the end of every month with 31 days. The number corresponds with Article 31 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.

However, Russian authorities often deny permission for demonstrations and harshly break up any unsanctioned gatherings.

City authorities allowed another rally in central Moscow on Thursday, which attracted about 300 people.

At that rally, veteran human rights campaigner Lev Ponomaev exhorted the crowd, saying "we call on all of civil society to stop the abuses of the ruling party."

There were no detentions reported at the authorized demonstration.

Comments

[Mrclouds]

08:53 PM on 04/01/2011

Today Russians are looking for a Strong leader to help lead the country and Reunify the former Soviet States noting more noting less.

[Mrclouds]

08:52 PM on 04/01/2011

If anyone is hoping for Democracy and Human rights including rainbows and unicorns there just delusional Russia the Soviet Union it's history it's been ruled by an Iron Fist from Ivan the terrible, Stalin, the Czars and like them or not though only the sweat of hard work they have achieved in Sciences and Math is because they have been pushed by the Iron Fists. Russia though its history has been ruled by Iron fists to progress it.

[StealGeorgia]

01:41 PM on 04/01/2011

Lets send in NATO. NATO can fix it!

[argus4]

01:09 PM on 04/01/2011

Russians have a proverb: "The law is like a telephone pole; you can't jump over it, but you can go around it." Give those opposed to the Putin-Medvedev regime some more time, and they'll figure out a way to make their protests count for more than they do now.

Of course, for those working in state-owned enterprises, if one thinks creatively, s/he can usually come up with a way to throw a spanner into the works or drop a handful of grit into the gears.

[Ieremias Barbarius]

07:54 AM on 04/01/2011

Russians are good people who have been oppressed by a Mafia-state ever since the 20th century. I hope they find their place and one day become a true-Democracy. I wish you luck and think less about what you should say and just shout what you feel.

[cliffhammond]

06:17 AM on 04/01/2011

150? That's all? Those Russians need to come to Wisconsin. We'll show them how to kick some hope and take some change!

[hema333]

01:12 AM on 04/01/2011

so the Infection came to russia...
where will it go again ??? !!!
africa - canada- australia...

[JoeDoorman]

01:08 AM on 04/01/2011

It's gonna be tough to put a no-fly zone over russia.
But its what we must do, we must stand with the russian people, who have been brutalized by dictators for decades.

[porthaul]

07:19 PM on 03/31/2011

Putin has "made" enough money to afford all the plastic surgeries on his face for the rest of his life. Time to step down, Puttie (GWB's nickname).

[Gustav Calder]

08:15 AM on 05/03/2011

GWB what is that?

[wowme]

06:48 PM on 03/31/2011

Shouldn't we be attacking the russians as well along with the libyans

[czs5056]

08:05 PM on 03/31/2011

no, Russia is too big and cold, that is what did Napoleon and the early 1940's Germans in

[KIVPossum]

09:27 PM on 03/31/2011

O, but those Russian girls can keep you so warm