Critical review: Documentary sparks protest and arrests in Moscow

About 100 protesters were detained in an unsanctioned rally outside the Ostankino television and radio tower in Moscow Sunday. The protest was a response to a controversial documentary shown on the state news channel NTV.

“Protests Anatomy” tells the story of the demonstrators who have been taking to the streets of central Moscow to demand a rerun of last December’s parliamentary elections.  The makers of the documentary criticized the protesters’ motives and funding, claiming some of them were only doing it for the money. The Opposition was outraged and hundreds gathered to express their anger outside the channel’s HQ.The police called on the demonstrators disperse, but the protesters remained firm and continued shouting.   Opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Sergey Udaltsov were among the first to be arrested. Both were released later same day.Three TV sets displaying slogans against the TV station were placed in front of the Ostankino tower. Protesters also brought a cardboard coffin that said “we will not forget.”The film jokingly said the demonstrators were out on the streets for the cookies, as they were being fed during the rallies. This time around, the protesters brought snacks to the NTV headquarters to “repay the debt.”