Police report hundreds of participants in unpermitted opposition demonstration in central Moscow
MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax) - About 700 people, including journalists, are currently present at an unpermitted opposition rally on Pushkin Square in the center of Moscow, the city police department told Interfax.
"About 700 people, including members of the press, are currently present at the venue of an unpermitted public event on Pushkin Square and the adjacent territories," it said.
Police and Russian Guard members are maintaining public order and security, it said.
An Interfax correspondent reported that several dozens of demonstrators carrying leaflets and Russian flags were marching toward Manezhnaya Square.
It had been reported earlier that police had started detaining opposition members gathering on Pushkin Square with leaflets.
Numerous police cars, prisoner transport vehicles, Tigr armored vehicles, and dozens of policemen are currently present in the Pushkin Square area.
Policemen are calling on the people via loudspeakers to disperse and "not to obstruct other people's passage."
Observers had said earlier that several dozens of people and journalists, including reporters of foreign TV channels, had gathered near the monument to Alexander Pushkin in the center of Moscow.