MOSCOW, May 26 (UPI) -- Moscow police released gay pride rally participants who were held in the capital, the Interior Department said Sunday.
The Saturday rally was unsanctioned. Gay rights activists have been requesting permits since 2006 to hold a rally in Moscow but authorities have consistently refused to sanction such an event, Moscow's RIA Novosti reported.
A few gay rights activists were held in the State Duma building when they attempted to stage consecutive solitary pickets, which require no governmental permits, RIA Novosti reported.
"Administrative violation reports were compiled for 39 detainees: protocols for the breach of the established rules of holding gatherings and meetings were drawn up for 29 detainees and protocols for petty hooliganism were completed for the other ten," the Interior Department said.
Several dozen LGBT activists who participated in a series of gay pride events in Moscow Saturday were detained, RIA Novosti said.
Most of those held were participants in the attempted rally in front of City Hall.
Gay rights activists and their opponents clashed in the evening at Gorky Park, in which demonstrations are permitted without sanction.
