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15 protesters detained for taking part in unauthorized rally in downtown Moscow

Police have been reinforced in the vicinity of the square at the nearby metro station

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, January 31 (Itar-Tass) —— Police have detained 15 protesters who gathered for an unauthorized rally on the Triumfalnaya Square in downtown Moscow, a spokesman for the Moscow police department told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“In all, some 100 people took part in the protest action on the Triumfalnaya Square, of whom 30 were journalists. Fifteen persons have been detained,” the spokesman said.

According to Itar-Tass correspondent, among those detained are Eduard Limobov, the leader of the radical opposition party Other Russia, and Konstantin Kosyakon, an activist from the Left Front movement. The situation on the square is calm. It is cordoned off by police.

Police have been reinforced in the vicinity of the square at the nearby metro station.

Every 31st day of a month, opposition movements try to stage a rally on Moscow’s Triumfalnaya square in support of Article 31 of the Russian constitution (freedom of rallies). The city authorities have never sanctioned such a rally on this square and offer other venues.

Today’s rally has not been authorized either.

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