Around 100 anti-government protesters were arrested while staging a protest to defend their rights to peaceful assembly at the Triumfalnaya (“Triumph”) Square in central Moscow on Saturday.
Kremlin critics, human rights activists, and others last year, began staging protests on the 31st of the month to protect Article 31 of the constitutional, which allows people to peacefully assemble, protest and march. This is the eighth time the demonstration has been held.
At each of the demonstrations, Russian police have driven protesters away and made arrests, saying the gatherings had not been approved by local authorities. During the last protest, on May 31, protesters were beaten and arrested by police.
“These activities are not forbidden by any law. The tradition has been made [to come out] despite any cancellations,” director of Moscow Helsinki Human Rights Group, Lyudmila Alexeyeva, wrote in an article published in Moscow Komsomolets newspaper before the gathering.
Between 500 and 1,000 people gathered at the square—numbers differ between local media and event organizers—holding posters displaying number 31 and other slogans such as “Freedom,” “Putin [current Russian Prime Minister] to resign,” and “Drive away the police state,” according to reports.
Before the rally, police had blocked off all approaches to the square, including lowering the metal grate at the closest subway exit, according to a report by the Moscow Helsinki Human Rights Group. The group said the police presence was very heavy about 50 paddy wagons were on standby.
Police ultimately arrested around 100 protesters, including leader of the opposition movement “Solidarity,” Boris Nemtsov, reported event organizers.
Similar protests took place in other large Russian cities as well, including St. Petersburg, where police also made arrests.
Alexeyeva said in a statement that the organizers would try to negotiate with local officials ahead of the next demonstrations, which will take place on August 31.
Organizers of the “Strategy-31 will continue talks at the level of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation and the Moscow mayor’s office if they are attended by persons having the right to make decisions about the rally on Aug. 31 in Triumph Square,” the statement said.
Kremlin critics, human rights activists, and others last year, began staging protests on the 31st of the month to protect Article 31 of the constitutional, which allows people to peacefully assemble, protest and march. This is the eighth time the demonstration has been held.
At each of the demonstrations, Russian police have driven protesters away and made arrests, saying the gatherings had not been approved by local authorities. During the last protest, on May 31, protesters were beaten and arrested by police.
“These activities are not forbidden by any law. The tradition has been made [to come out] despite any cancellations,” director of Moscow Helsinki Human Rights Group, Lyudmila Alexeyeva, wrote in an article published in Moscow Komsomolets newspaper before the gathering.
Between 500 and 1,000 people gathered at the square—numbers differ between local media and event organizers—holding posters displaying number 31 and other slogans such as “Freedom,” “Putin [current Russian Prime Minister] to resign,” and “Drive away the police state,” according to reports.
Before the rally, police had blocked off all approaches to the square, including lowering the metal grate at the closest subway exit, according to a report by the Moscow Helsinki Human Rights Group. The group said the police presence was very heavy about 50 paddy wagons were on standby.
Police ultimately arrested around 100 protesters, including leader of the opposition movement “Solidarity,” Boris Nemtsov, reported event organizers.
Similar protests took place in other large Russian cities as well, including St. Petersburg, where police also made arrests.
Alexeyeva said in a statement that the organizers would try to negotiate with local officials ahead of the next demonstrations, which will take place on August 31.
Organizers of the “Strategy-31 will continue talks at the level of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation and the Moscow mayor’s office if they are attended by persons having the right to make decisions about the rally on Aug. 31 in Triumph Square,” the statement said.
