Thirty demonstrators, including a woman on crutches who was over 70 years old, were detained Saturday at an unauthorized protest in support of suspects in the criminal case over violence at last May's anti-Kremlin rally on Bolotnaya Ploshchad.
In a show of support for the 27 suspects accused of taking part in violent clashes with police last May 6, protesters first held one-man pickets on Manezh Square, taking turns, and then walked across Red Square.
Fifteen of the suspects in the so-called Bolotnoye case are currently in detention.
Pickets in support of the suspects are currently held every day, while rallies on Red Square are organized each weekend.
During Saturday's pickets, the activists held posters reading "Bolotnoye case — this is how criminal cases were fabricated in the 1930s," a reference to Josef Stalin's show trials, and "Bolotnoye case — Putin's regime is mired in lies."
Of those detained, 27 were arrested on Red Square. Three activists who came to support detainees at the Zamoskvorechye police station were also arrested, and one was beaten, according to OVD-Info, a detention monitoring site.
Police began rounding up protesters after several of them held up sheets of paper, each with one letter on it, to spell out "May 6, 2013."
The date referred to the upcoming opposition rally to mark the anniversary of the clashes on Bolotnaya Ploshchad.
One of the protesters also unfurled a poster with instructions for police on how to lawfully detain people, while another activist had "Putin is a thief and murderer" written on her iPad.
While an elderly woman on crutches explained the opposition's views to passers-by, with a crowd of onlookers gradually surrounding her, police detained her and escorted her to a police van.
According to OVD-info, all detainees were released by Saturday night, some with misdemeanor charges filed against them.
Police were not immediately available for comment on Sunday.
Video: An elderly woman on crutches being detained on Red Square.
Contact the author at o.sukhov@imedia.ru
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.
