In Moscow, up to 10 persons detained at action in memory of Markelov and Baburova

In Moscow, the number of persons detained during the march in memory of murdered advocate Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova, a journalist of the "Novaya Gazeta", has increased up to 10 people, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Stanislav Markelov was killed on January 19, 2009, when he returned from the press conference held in the "Independent Press Centre" at Prechistenka Street, dedicated to early relief of Yuri Budanov. Anastasia Baburova, a student of the Department of Journalism of the Moscow State University and a journalist of the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta", who accompanied Stanislav Markelov on that tragic day, was wounded and later died in hospital. Investigators believe that she was an occasional victim.

Yesterday Moscow hosted a march in memory of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova. The  "Caucasian Knot" has reported that five persons were detained in the course of the action.  Later the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported that 10 people were detained.

The number of the detainees includes minors. Firecrackers were seized from some participants of the action, the "Interfax" reports with reference to an official of the Moscow Chief Department of the MIA.

During the march, three clashes occurred between participants of the action and their opponents, who were blocking their way. Policemen and OMON (riot police) fighters, who enhanced security at the event, asked them to keep public order.

The action was attended by Dmitry Muratov, the editor-in-chief of the "Novaya Gazeta", Nadezhda Prusenkova, the spokesperson of the "Novaya Gazeta", public observers, and members of the anti-fascist movement. None of the relatives of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova came to participate in the action. According to the policemen, the march sanctioned by the authorities for 500 people was attended by about 300-350 people, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.