Police detained seven protesters of the "Dima Yakovlev" bill for holding an unsanctioned protest on Wednesday near the Federation Council ahead of the scheduled discussion of the bill, news reports said.
Apart from the protesters, four members of the Russian Mothers organization were also detained while picketing in support of the bill, RBC reported.
All those detained were escorted to a police van and taken to a police station to determine what administrative liability they face, police told Interfax.
The area around the Federation Council has been cordoned off by police, with an increased security presence in the area.
The upper chamber of parliament is scheduled on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the controversial bill, which would ban U.S. adoptions of Russian children. If the council approves the bill, it will then be passed to President Vladimir Putin to be signed into law.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
