RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Eduard Limonov is arrested at an unsanctioned protest in central Moscow

Record ID: 543859

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Eduard Limonov is arrested at an unsanctioned protest in central Moscow
  • Date: 31st March 2013
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 31, 2013) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER EDUARD LIMONOV AMONG CROWD WALKING TO TRIUMPH SQUARE SAYING IN RUSSIAN 'I NEED TO REACH THE SQUARE' LIMONOV AND HIS SUPPORTERS WALKING TOWARDS SQUARE LIMONOV TALKING TO POLICEMAN VARIOUS OF POLICEMAN LEADING ARRESTED LIMONOV TO POLICE VAN VARIOUS OF POLICE NEAR POLICE VAN POLICE BEHIND METAL CORDONS WOMAN WALKING WITH PROTEST BANNER WOMAN HOLDING PROTEST BANNER POLICE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PROTESTER LUDMILA LUBOMUDROVA, SAYING: "I have a right to walk where I want. This is my country. This is my city." MAN WALKING WITH '31' PROTEST SYMBOL PINNED TO HIS JACKET '31' PROTEST SYMBOL PROTESTER HOLDING RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION IN PROTESTER'S HANDS VARIOUS OF POLICE NEAR POLICE VANS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PROTESTER OLGA HOLDING RUSSIAN CONSTITUTION, SAYING: "I want the laws to be abided by in our country finally in the 21st century. And first of all, abided by the people behind me." POLICEMAN YAWNING PROTESTERS, POLICE VAN
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5D2F9CI2KGL4DGF9BAB1OUQVH
  • Story Text: Russian police detained a prominent opposition figure during an unauthorised protest in Moscow on Sunday (March 31) to defend the right to assembly.
    Police grabbed Eduard Limonov, a leader of the Other Russia opposition movement, shortly after he arrived with a few dozen activists in Moscow's Triumph Square, a traditional rallying point for the opposition.
    For several years, a movement called Strategy 31 has called protests on the last day of every month that has 31 days to draw attention to what opponents of President Vladimir Putin say is Kremlin suppression of the right to free assembly.
    Freedom of assembly is guaranteed in Article 31 of Russia's constitution, but activists say the government restricts that right by requiring organisers to get official permission, which is frequently denied.
    "I have a right to walk where I want. This is my country. This is my city," said protester Ludmila Lubomudrova.
    "I want the laws to be abided by in our country finally in the 21st century. And first of all, abided by the people behind me," added protester who gave her name as Olga. She was holding a copy of Russia's constitution in ehr hands standing in front of the police cordon.
    A law passed in 2012 increased fines for organisers and protesters deemed to have violated the rules, part of what Putin's critics say is a crackdown on dissent accompanying his return to the presidency for a six-year term in May.
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