"Disagreement March" held in Russia

Today, Moscow has become the venue of a sanctioned meeting of Kremlin-oppositionist organizations from "The Other Russia" coalition. The participants of the action have informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that it was participated by some 1500 persons, including Chechen war opponents. Free election in Russia was the main demand of the rally. The participants of the action voiced their protest against the existing policy of the authorities of Russia, oppression of human rights and freedom of the press.

Many of the interested persons could not get to the meeting, as it was preceded with dispersal by "OMON" (Special Militia) forces of the forbidden "Disagreement March." According to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, at least 60 persons were detained.

The "OMON" also dispersed another spontaneous meeting rallied at the walls of the Moscow's Presnya District Interior Department ("ROVD") demanding to release the "Disagreement March" detainees.

The "Echo Moskvy" Radio correspondent informs that the journalists detained in the course of the "Disagreement March" in Nizhni Novgorod were beaten at the militia station. The employees of the Reuters, AP, New York Times and "Ogonyok" magazine were among the detainees, the web site "Kasparov.Ru" reports.

On Saturday, 20,000 employees of law enforcement bodies went out into the streets of Nizhni Novgorod. However, no more than 50 persons were admitted to the city centre to hold their protest action, the others were stopped at the approach. The action was toughly suppressed by militia. Hundreds of participants of the March were detained, tens of them were beaten. The city's Interior Department ("GUVD") reports about 30 detainees, the "Grani.ru" informs.