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Ten opposition protesters detained in St. Petersburg

Police said close to a hundred protesters gathered at Gostiny Dvor metro station in Nevsky Prospect for an unpermitted rally

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, December 9 (Itar-Tass) —— Police detained ten opposition activists who rallied in downtown St. Petersburg late on Thursday protesting against reported violations at the December 4 parliamentary election.

Police said close to a hundred protesters gathered at Gostiny Dvor metro station in Nevsky Prospect for an unpermitted rally. Those who chanted slogans and attempted to organize a march were detained.

Protests in St. Petersburg and Moscow began after the December 4 election in which the ruling United Russia Party lost the constitutional majority, but retained over a half of the seats in the State Duma. Protesters claim there was ballot-box stuffing in favor of United Russia.

However the number of protesters is on decline. The biggest number was reported in St. Petersburg on Tuesday when police estimated the crowd of up to 500 people of who close to 200 were detained.

In Moscow a rally in Bolotnaya Square on Sunday, December 11, has been allowed by authorities although two other events were not permitted.

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