1000 civil activists participated in an unsanctioned opposition protest on Triumfalnaya Square in the center of Moscow on Monday

Around 1000 civil activists participated in an unsanctioned opposition protest on Triumfalnaya Square in the center of Moscow on Monday. Over 150 people were violently detained. Journalist Alexander Artemyev was seriously injured: police has broken his arm.

According to so-called Strategy 31 on the 31st day of every month with that date people the rallies for the freedom of assembly, which is protected by the article number 31 of the Russian constitution, are held. Actually many opposition protests are broken up in Russia. The idea to uphold the 31st article was suggested by Eduard Limonov, a famous writer and a politician, later many movements and associations have joined. Initially, the rallies were hold only in Moscow, but now more than 35 regions participate. May 31st was the ninth time it has been held.

The authorities regularly refuse permission to hold these rallies, explaining the venue is used for other events. Usually they are the rallies of pro-Kremlin youth groups. This time the square was occupied by the blood donation event. There was a local fight initiated by “donors” when the protesters were trying to approach the square. Ilya Yashin, a young leader of the opposition group Solidarnost, who attempted to lead the crowd, was detained among others. Suprisingly, Eduard Limonov was left free this time. The other rally’s organized, Left Front activist Konstantin Kosyakin, was detained. 82-year-old former Soviet dissident Lyudmila Alexeyeva, a head of Moscow Helsinki Group and the third organizer, appeared on the rally surrounded by the support function, crossed the Triumfalnaya Square, cheered the demonstrators and soon left.

The slogans of the protesters were usual: they were chanting “Russia without Putin”, “Down with the power of Cheka”, “We need another Russia”. Every time the police caught another dissenter, the crowd exploded with shouting “Shame”. The detained were driven to the police stations and released only the day after. Many of them reported extreme brutality against them by OMON police. Some detainees used Twitter to report their conditions, some called to the journalists of opposition media like Novaya Gageta, the Echo of Moscow, Grani, Kasparov.ru.

The journalist of Gazeta.ru Alexander Artemyev was hospitalized directly from the police station because his arm was broken. He is now going to bring an action against the police officers, he said Tuesday on the Echo of Moscow radio station.

Vera Kichanova, Moscow

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