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Police detained 25 participants in unauthorized action in downtown Moscow

Among those detained is leader of Other Russia Eduard Limonov and several activists of the Strategy-31 group

MOSCOW, July 31 (Itar-Tass) —— Twenty-five people were detained in downtown Moscow for an attempt to stage an unsanctioned opposition action, a spokesman for Moscow policy department told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“Some 25 people were detained for an attempt to organize an unauthorized action in Triumfalnaya Square. They were taken to a police station to be brought to administrative responsibility,” the spokesman said.

Among those detained, according to an Itar-Tass correspondent, is leader of Other Russia Eduard Limonov and several activists of the Strategy-31 group.

Protesters began to gather in Triumfalnaya Square at about 18:00 Moscow time. Some staged a sit-in and chanted various slogans. Police detained some of them, including opposition activist Konstantin Kosyakin.

Limonov and his supported appeared at the scene at about 18:30. In reply to police warning that the action was unsanctioned, Limonov said he was fully aware of that. After this, Limonov was detained.

The police are pushing the protesters to clear square warning them that their “actions are illegal.”

Protest actions in support of article 31 of the Russian constitution (freedom of assembly) are traditionally staged on the 31rd day of each month. Since Moscow’s authorities issue no permits to hold such actions they traditionally end in detention of activists.