On May 31, 2005, about 30 activists of the Vanguard of the Red Youth (AKM) held an unsanctioned protest on Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin. Six picketers unfurled a placard "Putin, it's time to leave!" on the porch of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, the rest began to chant "Down with Putin!" A few minutes later, the picket was dispersed by employees of the Federal Security Service, who beat the protesters, as well as three journalists who were watching the action - Irina Gordienko (Novaya Gazeta), Shagen Oganjanyan (Novye Izvestia) and Aidar Buribaev (Gazeta). The journalists were detained and, together with members of the AKM, were taken to the Kitai-Gorod police station.

A total of 12 people were detained. Another 10 participants of the picket must appear in court for consideration of their administrative case.

On June 1, 2005, it became known that the Tver Interdistrict Prosecutor's Office of Moscow agreed to initiate a criminal case under article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“hooliganism”) against 38-year-old Gennady Alekhin. In addition, the leader of the AKM, Sergei Udaltsov, as the organizer of an unauthorized picket, was brought to administrative responsibility in the form of arrest for 10 days.

Sources

Oganjanyan Sh. Blood on Cathedral Square // Novye Izvestia. 2005. June 1.
Three AKM activists brought to justice // Gazeta.Ru. 2005 June 1st.
A criminal case has been opened against a participant in the picket near the Kremlin // Strana.Ru. 2005. June 1.

Journalists were beaten and detained along with participants of the AKM rally on Cathedral Square in the Kremlin.