Russian Activists Detained At Protest Rally

Activists in Moscow on 1 February (Courtesy Photo)

2 February 2006 -- Russian police detained some 15 human rights activists for staging an unsanctioned protest rally in Moscow on 1 February.

Some 60 activists from nongovernmental organizations gathered near the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) to protest recent FSB allegations that Russian NGOs had received funds from alleged British spies.

Activists say the allegations are part of a government campaign to discredit NGOs and gain public support for a controversial new law restricting their activities.

Several leading Russian human rights campaigners, including Lev Ponomaryov, the head of the For Human Rights group, and Oleg Orlov of the Memorial Human Rights Center were among those detained on 1 February.

Protesters had been denied permission by Moscow authorities to hold the rally, but went ahead with their plans.

(Interfax, lenta.ru, moscownews.com)