MOSCOW, May 13 (Itar-Tass) — The action of men of letters “Control Walk” is over in Moscow. Up to 2,000 people participated in it, the press service of the Moscow police department told reporters.
“The event, called “Control Walk” has rounded off. No substantial violations of public law and order have been recorded, apart from the fact that its participants created difficulties for road traffic,” said a department representative.
Meanwhile, according to an assessment of one of initiators and participants in the event, reporter Sergei Parkhomenko, more than 10,000 people participated in the march from the Pushkin monument.
Earlier, writer Boris Akunin initiated the action along the Bulvarnoye Circle. The aim of the event is to check a chance for a free walk along boulevards. Akunin’s initiative is explained by the fact that Moscow police detained citizens several days ago, walking in groups along Moscow boulevards.
The march was joined by writers Akunin, Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Yulia Latynina, Eduard Uspensky, painter Andrei Bilzho and other men of letters, reporters and poets.
Participants in the “Control Walk” gathered in the Pushkinskaya Square and headed for the Chistoprudny Boulevard in a column. Incidentally, road traffic policemen had to restrict motor traffic in the area of the Bulvarnoye Circle, since people were walking not only on sidewalks, but also on the carriageway. People were walking without flags, posters and without chanting any slogans.
Police did not interfere with the march.
Action participants believe that it was a success. “First, there is no ‘curfew’ in Moscow, as it looked like over the past few days. There was some incomprehensive phenomenon that people should not gather more than three; don’t walk there, and don’t promenade here, and this looked like ‘a curfew’.
“Well, there is no curfew in Moscow, and people can walk quietly around the city,” said reporter Sergei Parkhomenko.
He regards as another important result of the action – “restoration of legality in the country”. “Legislation permits to stage actions in a notification order. This is what we have done: we notified the authorities of holding a walk through the mass media, through Internet, reported aims of the action, its beginning, its end and the route. All this has worked,” he stressed.
The situation at the Chistoprudny Boulevard is quiet. Action participants discuss politics, play guitars and sing songs. Police don’t interfere with the situation.
According to the press service of the Moscow police department, 3,000 people converged on the Chistoprudny Boulevard.