Russian police arrest 20 for anti-government protest

MOSCOW - Police in Moscow Sunday violently broke up a peaceful but unapproved demonstration of government opponents, arresting at least 20 people, the Interfax news agency reported.

The demonstrators shouted “anti-government slogans” and demanded freedom of speech during the evening “Day of Wrath” protest, police officials were quoted as saying in Moscow.

The human rights organisations Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International accused Russia of violating international law with the violent police deployments. The Russian constitution also has a clause guaranteeing freedom of assembly.