The rally by human rights activists on Triumfalnaya Square between the Pekin Hotel and Brestskaya street was held for the first time with the consent of the city authorities.
Lev Ponomaryov, the leader of the For Human Rights movement, believes that the sanctioned rally of Russian human rights activists on downtown Moscow's Triumfalnaya Square went off calmly but was marred by Eduard Limonov’s behavior. Photo: participants of rally in support of Article 31 of the Constitution on Triumfalnaya Square.
Eduard Limonov, the leader of the Other Russia political bloc, called on the rally participants to hold an unsanctioned meeting and refuse to stage the event on Triumfalnaya Square, as permitted by the authorities.
The rally by human rights activists on Triumfalnaya Square between the Pekin Hotel and Brestskaya street was held for the first time with the consent of the city authorities.
Some 800 opposition members and 400 journalists arrived in the square, according to police.
Some 70 other opposition members, who disagreed with the proposal of the authorities and demanded permission for 1,500 people to participate in the event, gathered in another part of the square. Some of them were detained by police while the others managed to get to the place where the sanctioned rally was staged.
Some people were detained for lighting fires on Brestskaya street near the venue for the sanctioned rally was held.
Human rights activists and members of opposition movements failed to receive permission to hold a rally in support of Article 31 of the Constitution which guarantees the right of assembly.
However, the opposition members organized unsanctioned rallies every 31st day of a month which often led to clashes with police and breaches of public order.
Over 900 people, including police and soldiers, maintained order on the square.
Police detained several people who tried to disrupt the sanctioned rally on Triumfalnaya Square. They attempted to saw through a fence when they were held by police and taken to a police department.
