Opposition march being held in central Moscow
MOSCOW. May 5 (Interfax) - A march, organized by the Opposition Expert Council, began near Moscow's Oktyabrskaya metro station on Sunday evening.
Security was tightened in the area and policemen were deployed to accompany the marchers. Those joining the march were required to pass through metal detectors and were checked by police.
Marchers are donating money to be used to aid suspects in the criminal inquiry into the unrest on Bolotnaya Square a year ago.
Media people gathered on Kaluzhskaya Square before the march began.
The marchers walked along Bolshaya Yakimanka, carrying banners, posters and air balloons. Some had white ribbons pinned to the clothes. Ahead of the column walked activists carrying a poster reading, "Freedom to Political Prisoners!". They were followed by opposition campaigners carrying posters criticizing law enforcement services. Demonstrators who are demanding the release of Daniil Konstantinov, a Bolotnaya Square suspect, are in the middle of the column. Next to them march demonstrators with a poster reading, "Holy Mother Is with the People!"
Police and volunteers are deployed along the street. A police helicopter is hovering over the marchers.
About 400 people joined the march when it started its movement from Kaluzhskaya Square to Bolotnaya Square, according to the Moscow Police Department's website. The event is being covered by some 100 reporters and bloggers.
The Opposition Expert Council, which is an alternative to the Opposition Coordinating Council, said up to 10,000 activists would join the march in memory of the events on Bolotnaya Square on May 6 2012, when an authorized opposition march deteriorated into clashes with police and mass detentions.
More than 5,000 policemen, interior troops and volunteers were to be stationed to maintained order during the action.
The Opposition Coordinating Council, which had informed the city authorities they would hold a march along the same route, but on May 6, assailed the Opposition Expert Council's plans as provocative and aiming to distract the attention from the memorable date.
Almost 30 suspects, detained following the unrest on Bolotnaya Square on May 6 2012, have been charged with committing violence against policemen. One of them, Maxim Luzyanin, has been sentenced to 4.5 years in jail.
