Hundreds of people have been detained at a Moscow rally demanding punishment for police who detained an anti-corruption journalist.

Officers in riot gear clashed with protesters during the unauthorised march in support of Ivan Golunov.

Among those detained at the rally were fellow journalists as well as opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Mr Golunov was freed on Tuesday after drug-dealing charges against him were dropped following a public outcry.

Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokotsev said officers who had taken part in his detention would be suspended during an investigation.

Three major Russian newspapers had earlier rallied round the freelance journalist in a rare public show of support.

Russian authorities said more than 200 were detained at the Moscow protest, although one monitoring group put the number at more than 400.

Protesters waved banners and wore T-shirts with the slogan "I/We are Ivan Golunov" and accused police of using criminal behaviour in arresting the reporter.

A number of journalists at the rally were also detained, including a member of staff at German magazine Der Spiegel.

Footage of the arrests and of the crowds gathered in the centre of the city were shared on social media.

The march was originally organised to demand Mr Golunov's release but then became a call for those responsible for his initial detention to be held accountable.

Source: BBC

BDST: 2204 HRS, JUN 12, 2019
SI