Vladivostok Joined Nationwide Rally for Freedom of Assembly

VLADIVOSTOK. August 2. VOSTOK-MEDIA – A rally against restrictions on freedom of assembly, guarantied by Article 31 of the Constitution, was held in Vladivostok as part of the nationwide protest campaign Saturday, Svoboda radio station reported.

Artyom Samsonov, an activist of the pro-opposition TIGER movement, said more than 40 people took part in the rally. The police did not intervene in the demonstration.

“Demonstrations to defend Article 31 of the Constitution in the majority of Russian regions were staged without accidents and no arrests were made,” Interior Ministry’s spokesman said. “There were 13 demonstrations in ten regions of the Russian Federation with the demand for freedom of public gatherings as guarantied by the 31st article.”

Vladivostok law-enforcement authorities contend that only 15 people took part in the Vladivostok meeting. Four police officers were designated to oversee the order.

Primorye police spokesman said 7 people took part in a similar protest action in Blagoveshchensk.

The most numerous meetings took place in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where hundreds people were detained.