Police in Moscow detained and beat opposition politicians, along with protesters, in an attempt to disperse a July 27 demonstration against the refusal of officials to register several dissident figures as candidates in municipal elections.
Moscow Opposition Rally Turns Violent As Police Detain Protesters
- By RFE/RL
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Russian police move into position ahead of the protest rally, which had been called for by opposition politician Aleksei Navalny.
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There was a huge police presence on the streets of Moscow before the planned protest, which had not been sanctioned by authorities.
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A woman remonstrates with police who seemed intent on ensuring crowds could not gather at the proposed protest site near the Moscow mayor's office.
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A woman shows her ID to police officers, who were criticized by one civil rights activist for randomly stopping and detaining people "for no reason."
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Police officers formed a cordon to face up to the demonstrators.
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When law enforcement moved in to disperse the protesters, many in the crowd could be heard singing the Russian national anthem. Others chanted "We are unarmed," "Fair elections now," and "Russia will be free!"
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As the situation became increasingly fraught, protesters attempted to remove fences and barriers set up by police.
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There were scuffles as officers attempted to detain demonstrators.
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Altogether, more than 1,000 people were detained by police.
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A detained protester looks out from the barred window of a police van.
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Some of the protesters needed medical assistance for the injuries they sustained.
