Police Detains Dozens Of Protesters In Moscow, St. Petersburg

Russian Interior Ministry officers detain opposition activists in Moscow on March 31.

MOSCOW – Russia’s opposition says up to 60 activists were detained on March 31 when police broke up an anti-Kremlin protest in central Moscow.

The detained included Eduard Limonov, who heads the Other Russia coalition.

Some 1,000 people gathered in Triumfalnaya Square for the unsanctioned rally.

They shouted slogans against Vladimir Putin, who was elected for a third presidential term in a March 4 election.

In Moscow's Pushkin Square, several activists were reportedly detained at a rally of some 100 people organized by Sergei Udaltsov of the Left Front movement.

In St. Petersburg, police detained up to 40 people who were trying to stage a demonstration.

Similar opposition demonstrations were held on the 31st day of the past months in a campaign to uphold Article 31 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.

With reporting by AP and AFP

Russian Police Break Up Anti-Kremlin Protest