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Over 1,000 detained at unsanctioned Moscow rally after clashes & attempts to block roads (VIDEO) Over 1,000 detained at unsanctioned Moscow rally after clashes & attempts to block roads (VIDEO)
(32 minutes later)
A protest organized by the Russian opposition in a bid to get on the ballot ahead of the Moscow city council elections has ended up in clashes with police. Hundreds of protesters were detained and eight officers were injured. A protest organized by liberal Russian opposition figures, demanding places on on the ballot ahead of September's Moscow city council elections, has ended in clashes with police, resulting in injuries and hundreds of arrests.
An unsanctioned protest organized by the Russian opposition has ended in clashes between the police and demonstrators, who pelted officers with stones. Tensions in the city center led to hundreds of arrests. Saturday’s unsanctioned march saw eight officers injured and over a thousand protesters arrested, according to Moscow police. 
A standoff quickly escalated when protesters, who had sought to stage a rally outside the Moscow mayor’s office, defied police orders to disperse. On Tverskaya Street, where the office is located, law enforcement personnel were assaulted with pepper spray.  A standoff escalated when protesters, who had sought to stage a rally outside the Moscow mayor’s office, defied police orders to disperse. On Tverskaya Street, where the office is located, law enforcement personnel were assaulted with pepper spray. 
“The gas was sprayed from above, probably from one of the balconies of a nearby building,” a police source told TASS. The officers even had to wear gasmasks for a period of time, the Russian media reported.“The gas was sprayed from above, probably from one of the balconies of a nearby building,” a police source told TASS. The officers even had to wear gasmasks for a period of time, the Russian media reported.
Six officers were injured in the incident, according to media reports. Two other police officers suffered injuries in separate incident, police said, without providing any further details.
In a separate incident, protesters also pelted officers with stones and sought to break through a police cordon on several occasions. The demonstrators blocked several streets in the city center near the mayor’s office, and vandalized some outdoor dining areas, according to TASS.In a separate incident, protesters also pelted officers with stones and sought to break through a police cordon on several occasions. The demonstrators blocked several streets in the city center near the mayor’s office, and vandalized some outdoor dining areas, according to TASS.
The police had to respond by forcibly dispersing the crowd. Almost 300 people were detained following the initial clashes by 15:20 (local time) (12:20 GMT), police said in a statement. Some activist groups claimed, though, that the number of those arrested exceeded 500 at that time. Most of those detained were not Moscow residents, according to police.The police had to respond by forcibly dispersing the crowd. Almost 300 people were detained following the initial clashes by 15:20 (local time) (12:20 GMT), police said in a statement. Some activist groups claimed, though, that the number of those arrested exceeded 500 at that time. Most of those detained were not Moscow residents, according to police.
Over 3,500 people took part in the action in defiance of a ban by the Moscow authorities. Following the clashes with police, the protesters retreated from the Tverskaya Street and moved to the Trubnaya Square, also in the city center, where they attempted to stage another unsanctioned rally. A group of protesters briefly blocked part of the Garden Ring (Sadovoye Koltso), a ten-lane transport artery.Over 3,500 people took part in the action in defiance of a ban by the Moscow authorities. Following the clashes with police, the protesters retreated from the Tverskaya Street and moved to the Trubnaya Square, also in the city center, where they attempted to stage another unsanctioned rally. A group of protesters briefly blocked part of the Garden Ring (Sadovoye Koltso), a ten-lane transport artery.
The police moved in seeking to disperse the crowd. More than 1,000 people were detained following the Saturday protests, the police said in a statement. At least 10 people were detained during the follow-up action. Earlier, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin warned Muscovites that the rally could be used for provocations, and advised citizens not to attend.The police moved in seeking to disperse the crowd. More than 1,000 people were detained following the Saturday protests, the police said in a statement. At least 10 people were detained during the follow-up action. Earlier, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin warned Muscovites that the rally could be used for provocations, and advised citizens not to attend.
The protest organizers apparently planned provocations at the Saturday rally all along, said a member of the presidential human rights council, Kirill Kabanov. “The provocations … were prepared in advance. They were needed to give the protests a flavor favorable towards the organizers,” he told the Russian media.The protest organizers apparently planned provocations at the Saturday rally all along, said a member of the presidential human rights council, Kirill Kabanov. “The provocations … were prepared in advance. They were needed to give the protests a flavor favorable towards the organizers,” he told the Russian media.
Saturday’s protest was called by an opposition activist, Aleksey Navalny, during another demonstration last weekend, which was sanctioned by the Moscow authorities. He was detained on Wednesday and sentenced to a 30-day administrative arrest for organizing an illegal event. Some other opposition activists were also detained either before or during this Saturday’s rally.Saturday’s protest was called by an opposition activist, Aleksey Navalny, during another demonstration last weekend, which was sanctioned by the Moscow authorities. He was detained on Wednesday and sentenced to a 30-day administrative arrest for organizing an illegal event. Some other opposition activists were also detained either before or during this Saturday’s rally.
The ongoing series of protests in Moscow started two weeks ago after the Central Election Commission disqualified a dozen candidates wishing to run for the city council in September. The commission argued that they had forged voter signatures that they were required to submit as proof of public support. The disqualified candidates claimed the assessment process was flawed and called on the public to join the protests to make the authorities reconsider.The ongoing series of protests in Moscow started two weeks ago after the Central Election Commission disqualified a dozen candidates wishing to run for the city council in September. The commission argued that they had forged voter signatures that they were required to submit as proof of public support. The disqualified candidates claimed the assessment process was flawed and called on the public to join the protests to make the authorities reconsider.
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