Police detain participants in unsanctioned protest in downtown St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG. March 3 (Interfax) - An unauthorized rally was held in downtown St. Petersburg on Thursday, according to eyewitnesses.

Participants in the unauthorized public event gathered outside the Gostiny Dvor department store in Nevsky Avenue on Thursday night. Police immediately began detaining them.

Dozens of protesters have been apprehended.

Interfax has no comment from law enforcement authorities.

St. Petersburg has seen daily unsanctioned gatherings since February 24. According to the joint press service for St. Petersburg city courts, almost 900 protesters have been detained and fined.

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