Activist detained in St. Petersburg for reporting preparation of mass riots. Released three hours later

Update: Police released Sergei Belyaev just over three hours after his arrest. Four posters prepared for single-person pickets in St. Petersburg were confiscated from him.

St. Petersburg police detained Sergei Belyaev, an activist of the “ Indefinite Protest ,” MBKh Media reports, citing the detainee’s words.

The police told Belyaev that they had detained him because of a report that he was preparing to organize mass riots. The activist was taken to police station No. 5.

At 2 p.m. on August 17, a series of single pickets for free elections will begin in St. Petersburg near Gostiny Dvor. Police officers are on duty at the site.