Rostov-on-Don: VDV Day ends with mass detentions

In Rostov-on-Don, during celebration of the Day of Russian Airborne Forces (known as VDV Day), the police detained 150 persons for administrative offences; 67 of them are former and current VDV servicemen. According to the Chief Department for the Rostov Region of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), clashes of the police with a large group of former VDV servicemen took place on the embankment of the Don River.

According to the MIA, at about 11:35 p.m., a few dozen of people who celebrated the VDV Day, staged a brawl with the police on the embankment. Initially, they went out directly to the roadway and prevented the traffic. The police units on duty in Beregovaya Street warned them against violating the public order.

The crowd ignored the warnings and continued blocking the road. With the help of the OMON (riot police) unit of the Rostov regional branch of the MIA, the policemen tried to squeeze the bullies from the roadway; however, they were resisted. The crowd responded with throwing kerb fragments at law enforcers.

The hooligans were detained and taken to local police stations, where administrative protocols were draw up against them under the articles of "drinking of alcohol in public places" and "disorderly behaviour". Citizens of the Rostov Region and Krasnodar Territory are among the detainees, the website of the above MIA Chief Department reports.

After the incident, over 30 persons are still kept by police stations the "161.ru" reports.

So far, there are no comments of the detainees who celebrated the VDV Day on their version of the incident.