Article 31 of the Constitution guarantees the right to assembly, but for more than a year, Moscow authorities have refused to grant permission for a protest on Triumfalnaya Ploshchad, a historic meeting place. On Aug. 16, city authorities announced a closing of the square for what they said would be construction of an underground parking garage.
But protesters showed up on the afternoon of Aug. 31 ― where they were met by hundreds of police officers, riot police and soldiers. About 100 people were detained by police.
Though some people were detained after shoving against the police cordons, others were detained because they were holding "31" signs, shouting or standing next to the square. Moscow Times staff photographer Igor Tabakov captured images of the afternoon, which can be viewed here.
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.