NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — Four activists from the opposition Other Russia group were detained in the western city of Nizhny Novgorod, RFE/RL’s Russian Service reports.
The activists attempted to protest on the city’s central Liberty Square to demand the immediate release of their colleague, Taisia Osipova.
City police official Andrei Shmonin told journalists the activists did not notify the local authorities about the protest in advance. He said that failure constituted a violation of the law on public gatherings.
Osipova, 26, is married to Sergei Fomchenkov, a member of Other Russia’s Executive Committee. She was arrested in November for the alleged purchase of drugs from an undercover police agent.
Opposition activists say Osipova’s arrest is politically motivated and most likely connected to her husband’s political activities.
Activists in Moscow and St. Petersburg have staged similar protests in recent days.
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