Russia: Pussy Riot members among 18 people arrested after protest
![PinkNews logo on pink background with rainbow corners.](https://www.thepinknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PN-Article-Image-P.png?w=792&h=416&crop=1)
Eighteen protesters, including members of Pussy Riot, have been detained in Moscow.
Pussy Riot member Maria Alekhina said on Twitter that she and other protesters were detained by police early on Wednesday after congregating in Red Square.
A few thousand people rallied outside Red Square on Tuesday in the boldest anti-government demonstration in years to protest against the court conviction of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his brother.
Police allowed the protesters to stay for about two hours before dispersing the crowd.
Mr Navalny is a fierce critic of President Putin. He has called for LGBT pride events to be allowed in Moscow and has the support of Pussy Riot.
The US State Department said the sentencing was “a disturbing development designed to punish and deter political activism.”
Two members of the group were arrested during the Games in February.
Their imprisonment sparked widespread international condemnation.