ST. PETERSBURG, January 31 (Itar-Tass) —— Police have detained 12 protesters who gathered for an unauthorized rally near the Gstinny Dvor metro station in downtown St. Petersburg, a spokesman for the St. Petersburg police department told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

The action in support of Article 31 of the Russian constitution (freedom of rallies) is traditionally timed for every 31st day of a month. Today’s rally has not been authorized.

The detained will face administrative charges of violating rules of mass rallies.