Three policemen in St. Petersburg were injured Monday night and 22 people detained when preservationists took over a privately owned building in an occupy-style protest, police said in a statement Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. at a building owned by the Adamant company. The building is part of the architectural ensemble of the 19th-century Varshavsky Station, a major historic landmark that many preservationists believe is under threat.
"Officers of the law attempted to start negotiations with the unknown individuals to determine the purpose of their location on the premises. But the group ignored all demands and failed to obey. As a result, three officers were injured, two of whom were hospitalized," the police statement said.
A police spokesman later said that the injured officer had one of his teeth knocked out with a crow-bar, RIA-Novosti reported.
The detained protesters were taken to a police department to be processed on misdemeanor charges.
A check is under way to determine the circumstances of the police officers' injuries, and two of the detained protesters face up to 10 years in prison for inflicting harm on a public officer if criminal charges are filed.
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