Friday, September 12, 2025
spot_img

Police disperse protesters at anti-Putin sit-in

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

MOSCOW: Russian riot police broke up an Occupy-style protest against President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, forcing dozens of people out of a central Moscow park where they had staged a sit-in round-the-clock for a week and detaining at least 15.

Dispersal of the makeshift encampment was the latest step in a government crackdown on protests over Putin’s return to the presidency on May 7 for a six-year term following four years as prime minister.

Police converged on the site at Chistiye Prudy park at about 5:30 am 0700 IST and told some 50 people who had spent the night to leave, citing a court order issued on Tuesday requiring them to clear the area.

Police quickly moved protesters toward a nearby subway station and detained at least one person in the park, witnesses said. A Reuters reporter saw police arrest at least 14 others near the subway station.

“People were ready to gather their stuff and move, but they did not give us time, they just started pushing people out,” said Alisa Obraztsova, a protester in her 20s.

The small park was left strewn with cardboard boxes, sleeping mats, plastic chairs and other belongings. Workers in orange coats were preparing to clean the site.

Protesters had been camping there since May 9, seeking to maintain a permanent demonstration, and the size of the crowd varied from a few dozen to as many as 2,000.

A Moscow court, responding to a complaint filed by three residents near the site, issued an order on Tuesday ordering police to “take measures to stop the mass event and the violations of civil order.”

Protest leaders have accused police of being behind the complaint. (UNI)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Opposition corners MDA govt on Rs 500-crore GST fraud

VPP’s Ardent Basaiawmoit cites a report in The Shillong Times, saying the ‘scandal’ damaged Meghalaya’s image By Our Reporter SHILLONG,...

Another task for CS but after his retirement

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Sep 11: Chief Secretary Donald Phillips Wahlang will retire by the end of September, but...

Political limbo in Nepal: Interim govt still a far cry

New Delhi, Sep 11: One would have expected that there would be an interim government in place in...

Record 264 state VHCs comply with tobacco-free village prog

Health Ministry, WHO laud Meghalaya model as prog activates 1,030 VHCs in first year across EKH and WJH...