Yet Another “Little Blue Buckets” Action

Photo by our reporter

Moscow police detain activists with blue buckets

The Federation of Russian Car Owners (FAR) organized what it called an "extended stroll" of "blue-bucket" activists in Moscow's Kitay-Gorod district on May 12. At least 10 of the activists were detained by police and spent several hours in custody.

The activists who participated in the "extended stroll" did not carry placards or chant any slogans. But they wore buckets on their head in the same shade of blue as the sirens that are placed atop cars used by top government officials and businesspeople to quickly maneuver through bad traffic.

Such siren-sporting vehicles have caused several deadly traffic accidents across in Russia.

Police detained the "blue-bucket" protesters for holding an unsanctioned mass gathering.

But the detainees argued that they did not need to obtain permission from authorities because they did not carry any signs or chant any slogans.

© rferl.org