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Dozens detained in Moscow amid illegal rally against new constitutional amendments Dozens detained in Moscow during unauthorised protest against recently approved constitutional amendments
(about 7 hours later)
Moscow police have detained 132 people taking part in an unauthorized rally against the recently-adopted constitutional amendments. A similar protest was also held in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. Moscow police detained over a hundred demonstrators who held an unapproved rally on Wednesday evening. They were protesting against constitutional changes passed in a national vote, earlier this month.
About 1,000 people gathered at the Pushkin Square in central Moscow on Wednesday evening, according to Novaya Gazeta estimates. Those present were particularly opposed to a new clause re-setting presidential term limits - this could potentially allow Vladimir Putin to contest two more elections and stay in the Kremlin until 2036. A similar event was also held in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city.
The protesters were gathering signatures in favor of revoking the constitutional amendments, green-lighted by a nationwide vote earlier this month with solid support of nearly 78 percent. They have already been approved by the legislators as well. Between 200-300 people gathered at Pushkin Square in central Moscow on Wednesday evening, according to estimates from newspaper Kommersant. 
While the gathering was unauthorized, law enforcement did not intervene at first. The police only acted when a group of some 200 protesters tried to stage a march along the Garden Ring, one of the main streets in downtown Moscow, and disrupt traffic there. A total of 132 people have been detained, TASS reported citing the police. The protesters said they were gathering signatures in favor of revoking the constitutional amendments, passed in a nationwide vote earlier this month with the support of 78 percent of participants.
While the gathering was unauthorized, law enforcement did not intervene at first. Police acted when the bulk of protesters tried to move the march to the Garden Ring - a major orbital route in downtown Moscow - and disrupt traffic there.
A total of 132 people were detained, news agency TASS reported citing official numbers. They included Yulia Galyamina, a well-known Moscow city councillor. Eyewitnesses complained of a heavy-handed police approach.
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A similar unauthorized event was held at the same time in central St. Petersburg. According to media estimates, the gathering attracted some 1,000 protesters, who were also collecting signatures against the constitution. The St. Petersburg meeting turned out to be less eventful than the one in Moscow, and no arrests have been reported so far. A similar unauthorized event was held, around the same time, in central Saint Petersburg. According to media estimates, the gathering attracted some 500 protesters. The Saint Petersburg meeting turned out to be less eventful than the one in Moscow, with no arrests reported. 
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