MOSCOW, April 14 (UPI) -- Chess great Garry Kasparov was arrested in Moscow during a political demonstration.
Kasparov and 40 others were arrested Saturday when Kasparov tried to lead a banned political March near Pushkin Square, RIA Novosti reported.
Kasparov, a former world chess champion, was detained as a precautionary measure, said Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, adding that no group would be allowed to march in the city.
"Processions are a problem to us," he said.
Kasparov is the leader of the oppositional United Civil Front, which opposes the current Russian leadership.
The so-called March of Dissent was to be held in central Moscow by members of the People's Patriotic Union, the banned National Bolshevik Party, and the United Civil Front led by Kasparov.
Nearly 9,000 police officers were on hand to provide security in Moscow during the attempted march.
