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Opposition rally in Moscow suburb draws about 500 people - police

The rally proceeds peacefully

MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/. About 500 activists have gathered for a rally of supported of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Moscow suburb of Maryino, a police spokesman told TASS on Sunday.

"Organizer of the rally applied for an authorization of a rally involving 40,000 people. However, at the official beginning of the rally in Maryino, there were not more than 500 people, including journalists and bloggers," the spokesman said.

The rally "For Change of Power" that was permitted by the Moscow mayor’s office involves activists of Navalny’s Party of Progress that was denied registration, the opposition party Parnas, the Solidarity movement and the non-registered party Fifth of December.

The rally was opened by deputy leader of Parnas Ilya Yashin, who told about the results of the September 13 elections to the Kostroma region Duma (legislature), where had topped the opposition list of candidates.

Parnas scored slightly more than two percent of the vote and failed to win seats in the Kostroma region Duma. The party recognized the polling results and decided not challenge them.

The rally proceeds peacefully.

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