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Opposition rally downtown Moscow ends without incidents

The protesters demanded the release of all people who were detained in connection with the Bolotnaya Square riots on May 6

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 26 (Itar-Tass) — A rally in support of opposition members arrested for disturbances during an opposition rally on Bolotnaya Square on May 6 has ended in Moscow. The action started in the Novopushkinsky pubic garden downtown Moscow earlier on Thursday and has passed without incidents, a Moscow police source told Itar-Tass.

“The rally passed without incidents. Around 800 people took part in the protest,” the police source clarified.

The rally ended at 22:00 Moscow time. It was authorized by the Moscow authorities. The protesters demanded the release of all people who were detained in connection with the Bolotnaya Square riots on May 6. Their number has reached 16. Twelve suspects have been arrested. Maria Baronova has given a written pledge not to leave the city. Alexandra Dukhanina, 18, is under house arrest.

On May 6, 2012, the opposition held the sanctioned March of Millions action which grew into clashes with police and mass riots. The demonstrators tried to break through police cordons. Some hurled bottles and firers. They put up resistance to policemen if the latter wanted to detain them. Some pulled down police helmets from their heads. More than 400 people were detained for unlawful actions that day. About thirty policemen and dozens of demonstrators were injured.

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