MOSCOW, December 7 (Itar-Tass) — Police detained five persons on Moscow’s downtown Triumfalny square Wednesday night for an attempt to hold an unauthorized meeting, the press service of the city’s Interior Department said.
By the time of detention, more than thirty aspirants to taking part in the protest had gathered on the square. Also, there were more than 50 reporters and Internet bloggers there.
“Since the action was not coordinated with the city’s authorities, the police urged the people several times to go away but some of them refused to obey and were detained,” the press service said.
They were taken to a police station where the policemen were to decide on instituting the cases for administrative infractions.
High-rank Interior officials confirmed that the number of people, who came to Triufalny Square Wednesday was dozens of percent smaller than Monday.
“That’s why we engaged far fewer officers of the forces of law and order in the operation,” a source said. “Their number was practically the same that we typically bring in to prevent unauthorized actions on the square.”
The number of policemen guarding law and order on Moscow’s streets remains unchanged as of December 1 when reinforced patrolling was introduced.