RUSSIA: Police detains protesters in central Moscow after thousands took part in a sanctioned rally against the results of the presidential elections

Record ID: 643993

  • Title: RUSSIA: Police detains protesters in central Moscow after thousands took part in a sanctioned rally against the results of the presidential elections
  • Date: 11th March 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 10, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING AWAY FROM RALLY POLICE ON STREET OUTSIDE BARRICADES VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE NEAR POLICE TRUCK PEOPLE WALKING WITH FLAGS LEFT FRONT LEADER SERGEI UDALTSOV WALKING IN CROWD SURROUNDED BY PHOTOGRAPHERS, PEOPLE SHOUTING 'WE'RE THE POWER HERE!' UDALTSOV AND OTHERS CHANTING 'DOWN WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHECKISTS!' OFFICERS IN RIOT HELMETS IN LINE CROWD WALKING AND CHANTING RIOT POLICE OFFICERS IN LINE OFFICER AT UNDERGROUND CROSSING CROWD SHOUTING 'SHAME' POLICE PUSHING IN CROWD RIOT POLICE SURROUNDING CROWD PEOPLE MARCHING, CHANTING 'RUSSIA WITHOUT PUTIN!' RIOT POLICE STANDING ON HIGH POINT, WATCHING CROWD POLICE IN CROWD POLICE LEADING DETAINEE AWAY HELMETED POLICE WALKING THROUGH CROWD
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA45NISN1Z9MS29XZ22N502PD50
  • Story Text: Police detained dozens of protesters on Saturday (March 10) who tried to start an unauthorised rally following the "For Fair Elections" opposition rally earlier in the afternoon, which drew thousands. People chanted "Russia without Putin!" and "We're the power here!" as they marched down the Moscow centre.
    According to Russian news agency Itar-Tass, 60 people, along with opposition Left Font movement leader Sergei Udaltsov, were detained.
    The crowd shouted "Shame" as police in riot gear swarmed around them.
    Even though international vote monitors say the March 4 presidential election was skewed in favour of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, opposition leaders have been forced by the margin of victory to acknowledge that he was the winner.
    Official results showed Putin, the prime minister and former KGB spy, won almost 64 percent of votes and put the runner-up, Communist Gennady Zyuganov, on less than 18 percent.
    The opposition is struggling to find a way to maintain pressure on Putin and mount a sustained challenge to the man they say has stunted Russia's political and economic development after 12 years rule as president and prime minister.
    Udaltsov, a far-left leader, called for 1 million people to march on May 1, a national holiday.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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