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Opposition Plans May 6 Bolotnaya Rally

The opposition's Coordination Council on Saturday proposed a major protest on Moscow's Bolotnaya Ploshchad on May 6, exactly a year since a protest there ended with hundreds of detentions amid clashes with police.

The anniversary rally is tentatively being called "For Freedom," Interfax reported. The Coordination Council intends to apply to City Hall for the appropriate sanctions.

Twenty-one demonstrators faced criminal charges after last year's rally, where more than 400 protesters were detained.

Fifteen of those charged remain in pretrial detention, and four under house arrest. One has been sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison, and another is on an international wanted list.

In honor of those who were charged with violence against police and rioting at last year's protest, the Coordination Council is planning to hold a series of rallies throughout April.

On April 6, the council has tentatively planned a rally on Pushkin Square to collect support letters addressed to the imprisoned activists.

The council is also planning meetings with relatives of the imprisoned activists, white-ribbon walks throughout downtown Moscow, and a 24-hour single-person picket on Manezh Square.

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