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Police detain protesters in St Petersburg for organizing unsanctioned rally - Interior Ministry

Seven people were taken to a police station for investigation

ST.PETERSBURG, May 31 (Itar-Tass) - Police have detained seven people who organized an unauthorized protest action downtown St. Petersburg on Friday evening.

"Police thwarted an unsanctioned rally. Seven people were taken to a police station for investigation,” a source at the Interior Ministry department for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region told Itar-Tass.

The detainees will face administrative charges for disobedience to police and participation in an authorized public event.

Friday’s action took place near the Gostinnyi Dvor metro station as part of a series of Strategy-31 civic protests in support of the right to peaceful assembly in Russia guaranteed by Article 31 of the Russian Constitution. Since July 31st, 2009, protests have been held on Moscow’s Triumfalnaya Square on the 31st day of each month, which has 31 days.

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