Police allow free movement and make only one arrest as anti-Putin demonstrators gather next to the Kremlin
Russian police let hundreds of activists roam Moscow's Red Square freely on Sunday in the first anti-government protest held next to the Kremlin, though it detained three activists who were attempting to set up a tent.
Russian authorities had deemed Red Square off limits for political demonstrations. Last week they sealed it off and detained dozens of activists who had sought to hold a silent protest against Vladimir Putin's rule.
But police showed leniency on Sunday as hundreds of activists walked round the spacious square wearing white ribbons and carrying white flowers, the symbols of popular protests that erupted in Moscow and other Russian cities following a disputed parliamentary election in December.
"I feel like I've come to another planet. I do not understand what is happening. This is the Kremlin," said activist Vitaly Zalomov at the protest, which was dubbed "White Square". "Where are the police?"
Putin has faced the largest protests in his 12-year rule in recent months, but after his victory in the March 4 presidential election, the fragmented opposition movement has lost some of its momentum.
The Kremlin has agreed to limited political reforms in response to the demonstrations, but rejected the protesters' main demand for a rerun of the December 4 parliamentary election, which government critics say was rigged.
The opposition said it would keep up the fight in local elections and street protests.
Activists argue that the authorities are violating their right to freedom of assembly when they demand advance approval of the location and the timing of a protest.
The police broke up the first opposition rally in December, saying it had not been authorised, and another protest in March when protesters did not leave a central Moscow square at the agreed time. Other demonstrations were peaceful.
Located next to the Kremlin, the official residence of Russian presidents, Red Square is one of Moscow's main tourist attractions, home to the ancient St Basil's Cathedral and the mausoleum of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin.
"Red Square is also gradually becoming a place where people come to demonstrate," said activist Pavel Shelkov, who was held by police for four hours after attempting to protest there on March 31.
Sunday's action, organised through social networks, had not been agreed with the authorities, organisers said, but most protesters were careful not to provoke the police or form large groups.
Opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Udaltsov handed out leaflets calling on Putin to go and asked supporters to hold a similar protest outside parliament, where Putin is due to make a speech on Wednesday.
Police watched the action closely but interfered only once when Evgeniya Chirikova, an environmental activist, tried to set up a tent, a symbol of continuous street protests similar to those that toppled governments in the Middle East.
Police detained Chirikova along with two other activists. About 100 of her supporters gathered outside the central police station where she was taken to demand her immediate release.