MOSCOW, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Employees and visitors at three Moscow district courts and the Moscow election commission were evacuated on Wednesday due to bomb threats, which later proved to be false.

"The work of the Presnensky, Meshchansky and Tverskoy district courts were temporarily suspended due to a call about an allegedly planted explosive device," the Russian government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported.

It said hours later that the courts resumed work as no explosive devices were found there.

The newspaper did not say whether the threats contained any demands.

The Moscow election committee said in a statement that it had received a threat of a bomb attack unless all protesters detained during unauthorized rallies on July 27 and Aug. 3 are released, which proved to be a hoax as well.

The commission warned that "attempts of any pressure, intimidation, and even threats against us are useless and may have absolutely concrete specific legal consequences for their authors."

Police detained over 1,600 participants together in the two rallies of protest against Moscow authorities' decision to ban several opposition candidates, who allegedly used fake signatures on their nominating petitions, from the city council election in September.

Most of them were released pending trial, some were fined and some, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his allies, were put into custody for 7 to 30 days.

The Presnensky district court ruled on Friday to put into custody until Sept. 27 four participants in the July 27 rally accused of the use of violence against police officers. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)