Russian police arrest dozens at opposition rallies

Russian police arrest dozens at opposition rallies

2011-04-01 02:22:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOSCOW (BNO NEWS) -- Russian police on Thursday arrested dozens of opposition protesters in unauthorized rallies in Moscow and St. Petersburg, RIA Novosti reported.

In Moscow, about 100 people attended the rally in support of Article 31 of the Russian constitution, which guarantees the right to free assembly. At least 54 people, including prominent opposition figures Eduard Limonov and Konstantin Kosyakin, were detained.

About 350 people and 150 journalists attended an authorized rally simultaneously held in the capital, but no arrests were made.

In St. Petersburg, two other opposition leaders were arrested, along with about 100 of the 300 people who attended the rally. About 10 people were also arrested in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, the country's fourth largest city.

Russian opposition leaders organize demonstrations the 31st day of a month in reference to Article 31 which guarantees freedom of assembly.

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