MOSCOW-
More than a hundred protesters were detained by Russian riot police on Monday outside a Moscow courthouse where a judge was expected to sentence eight defendants convicted of attacking police at a 2012 demonstration against President Vladimir Putin.
Hundreds came to support the defendants in the “Bolotnaya” case whom Kremlin critics see as victims of a clampdown on dissent during Putin’s third term.
The judge on Friday found the defendants guilty of rioting and attacking police at a protest on May 6, 2012, the day before Putin, in power since 2000, returned to the presidency after a stint as prime minister. The defendants blame police for the clashes that erupted at the rally and pleaded not guilty.
As the judge continued reading the verdict on Monday in the courtroom, where the male defendants were handcuffed in a cage, camouflage-clad riot police with batons pushed into the crowd outside, barred from approaching the court by metal barriers, and seized demonstrators one by one.
Moscow police said more than 100 people were detained for attempts to violate public order, according to Interfax news agency. Opposition activists said the number was more than 140.
So you arrest people that voice an opinion, peaceful protestors get arrested, YOU'RE PATHETIC PUTIN!
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