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Prominent Russian lawyer vows to look into detention of journalists during Moscow rallies

According to the authorities, more than 600 people, including the rally’s organizer Alexei Navalny, were detained on Sunday

MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. Chairman of the Public Council under the Russian Interior Ministry Anatoly Kucherena has pledged to consider each case of detention of journalists during Sunday’s unauthorized opposition rally in central Moscow.

According to media reports, a journalist from the Ekho Moskvy radio station, Alexander Plyushchev, was detained at Sunday’s rally. Ekho Moskvy’s editor-in-chief Alexei Venediktov has reportedly asked Kucherena to probe into the incident. According to Venediktov, some journalists who were highlighting the rally were taken to police stations and could not do their job.

"It was discussed that journalists who are covering such events should be seen by policemen and be treated duly. This issue will be considered as soon as we receive the request [from Venediktov]," Kucherena told TASS, adding he has not yet seen Venediktov’s request.

Kucherena noted that it is important to see to it both journalists and policemen working at such rallies do not hinder each other as all of them do their job. "Any information concerning professional activities of journalists is always in sight of the Public Council under the Russian Interior Ministry and each case will be addressed separately. It is important to make sure that all problems that might emerge during such mass events are resolved within the legal framework," he added.

According to Moscow’s authorities, more than 600 people, including the rally’s organizer Alexei Navalny, were detained on Sunday during the opposition rally in central Moscow.