On Saturday, April 29, Moscow police detained 27 opposition activists on the Red Square during an unsanctioned protest against the prosecution of people suspected of involvement in violence at a rally on May 6, 2012.

      On the whole, over 50 people took part in the protest, most of them are supporters of Left Front leader Sergei Udaltsov, who is currently under house arrest. The main demand of the opposition activists is to release all mass riots suspects, as the case is considered to be politically motivated.

      About 30 people are currently named defendants in so-called “Bolotnaya case”, facing charges ranging from inciting mass unrest to using violent force against law enforcement officials.

      Red Square protests in support of the suspects have been taking place every Saturday since mid-March, not counting single piquets, which are held every day. A much larger rally is expected to take place on the first anniversary of the rally, May 6, in central Moscow.