Police prevent unsanctioned meetings in Moscow, 70 detained.

MOSCOW, March 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Moscow police have prevented
unsanctioned meetings in the city, the head of the city police information
department , Viktor Biryukov, told reporters on Saturday.
Activists of some political and public organizations attempted on
Saturday to organise mass rallies not sanctioned by Moscow authorities.
However, with appropriate professional actions, policemen prevented
serious public order violations and ensured security for citizens,
Biryukov said.
The first unsanctioned meeting took place at Pushkinskaya Square.
Despite repeated warnings of the mayor's office and the police department,
the organisers gathered about 200 people at the site, and about 100
Russian and foreign reporters came to cover the event. The demonstrators
attempted to stage provocations with the use of fire devices, but the
provocative actions were promptly stopped, and the offenders were
detained. A total of 70 people were taken to police offices. The detained
persons would be freed after the reports of the incidents were written,
the spokesman said. The reports will be handed over to court.
Besides, a group of drivers attempted to organise an action at the
Garden Ring that could disrupt the traffic and cause jams and even
accidents. Participants in the action gathered at Zubovsky Boulevard and
intended to go in a column along the inner side of the Garden Ring. The
drivers took the third and fourth lanes, moving at a low speed and
hampering the traffic.
Police at the road were ready for such developments. They prevented
the drivers from forming a column. The traffic along the Garden Ring was
not halted. Some drivers who violated the regulations were stopped, and
police wrote up reports against them for offences, including violation of
the parking regulations.
Allowed meetings planned for Saturday in the city were held without
serious violations. All the permitted actions ended without incidents.
Order was ensured, and nobody was detained, Biryukov said.
The Moscow interior affairs department once again asks organisers of
mass actions to inform authorities beforehand and receive permission to
prevent conflict situations. Police will continue to take measures in
accordance with the law to ensure security in Moscow and prevent illegal
actions and provocations, the official noted.





.Udmurtia population favours switch to Moscow time.






IZHEVSK, March 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Residents in the Republic of Udmurtia
welcome the switch to Moscow time, the decree on which is signed by Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin.
The republic's President Alexander Volkov noted that among the
advantages of the switch was the convenience to use railway and plane
tickets with traditionally indicated Moscow time for departure.
Railway schedules are adjusted to Moscow time, but it was not
convenient for residents in the republic, Izhevsk railway service press
secretary Marita Golitsyna confirmed. Some passengers even missed their
trains because of the time difference. It often happened when trains
departed at about 00:00, she said.
Local television and radio workers also favour the change. The chief
of the Izhevsk radio broadcasting station, Oleg Zhmakin, told Itar-Tass
that the population would watch broadcasts at the same time with
Muscovites. There would be no confusion in television announcements.
Spectators in Udmurtia would not have to add an hour to the indicated
time, he noted.
Prime Minister Putin has signed the government resolution to use time
of the second time zone in the territory of the Republic of Udmurtia.
In accordance with the proposal of the republic's State Council and
the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, the Russian government decrees to
begin to use time of the second time zone in Udmurtia from March 28, 2010,
the cabinet press service said.
The republic's government is instructed to ensure the switch and
inform organizations and the population about it, including through mass
media.
-0-pan