Watchdog

Moscow authorities have removed an improvised memorial near the Kremlin where Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was gunned down last year.

The OVD-Info online news portal reported on May 9 that police detained two activists, who were watching over the site overnight, and removed the memorial that included flowers and posters.

The activists, whose names have not been disclosed, were released several hours later.

Activists have organized a night watch at Nemtsov's memorial because it has been vandalized several times since January.

Nemtsov was fatally shot on a bridge near the Kremlin on February 27, 2015.

Several men from the North Caucasus region have been arrested and charged with Nemtsov's killing.

Nemtsov's relatives and lawyers have expressed skepticism about the probe, insisting the killing must have been ordered by high-ranking Russian officials.

With reporting by OVD-Info

A Russian opposition activist has been forcibly admitted to a psychiatric clinic in the southwestern city of Voronezh.

Dmitry Vorobyevsky's friends said police and medical personnel forcibly moved the activist to a psychiatric clinic from his home on May 6.

A local rights defender and lawyer, Olga Gnezdilova, said on May 9 that Vorobyevsky had to be released 48 hours after his admission.

But she said due to the public holiday marking Victory Day the court hearing into the legality of Vorobyevsky’s forced hospitalization will be held on May 10. (https://www.facebook.com/gnezdilova.org/posts/10201337717320328)

Vorobyevsky is well-known for taking part in anti-Kremlin protests.

In the former U.S.S.R., Soviet authorities often forcibly placed individuals in psychiatric clinics to crack down on dissent.