Kevin O'Flynn, a journalist working for The Guardian in Moscow, live tweeted his own arrest on Monday while covering the ongoing protests sparked by the inauguration of Vladimir Putin as president of Russia.
O'Flynn arrived at the gates of Moscow's Presidential Administration Building at approximately 7:00 p.m. local time Monday evening. He found an increased police presence, despite few protesters on the scene.
Few people. Gate still open topresidential administration. A sprinkling of police vans.campl.us/jkqK— Kevin O'Flynn(@oflynnkevin) May 7, 2012
About a half an hour later, O'Flynn checked and cleared his press credentials with the authorities. A minute after that, he was arrested -- and he got to tweeting immediately.
Ooh arrested, one minute after documents checked and said ok.— Kevin O'Flynn(@oflynnkevin) May 7, 2012
Some of his followers quickly took notice, asking him questions or sending words of goodwill.
@oflynnkevin Удачи.Hope everything turns out ok.— Janine Balekdjian (@Galadriel391) May 7, 2012
@oflynnkevin what have you been arrested for?— km (@agitpro) May 7, 2012
O'Flynn wasn't immediately able to answer, but he was able to fire off a cameraphone photo from inside a Russian police van.
Inside the police van. Next prisoner enters says 'Hello political prisoners' campl.us/jktC— Kevin O'Flynn(@oflynnkevin) May 7, 2012
However, O'Flynn was released from custody seven minutes later.
I'm out. Shortest detention in history. They even apologized.— Kevin O'Flynn(@oflynnkevin) May 7, 2012
Later, he gave more details about his arrest, which was carried out by police in riot gear.
Was lifted up and taken by two very short riot police officers. Shouted "I love you" a number of times but they oddly ignored me.— Kevin O'Flynn(@oflynnkevin) May 7, 2012
After being released, I was welcomed back to free land by a pretty young girl who gave me this.campl.us/jkvq— Kevin O'Flynn(@oflynnkevin) May 7, 2012
Putin was elected to the Russian presidency in March after previously serving two four-year terms as president, then four as prime minister beside the now-former President Dimitri Medvedev. Many observers believed Putin to be using the prime minister role as a means to secure re-election as president this year. He was barred by Russian law from seeking three consecutive terms.
Hundreds of Russian citizens have been arrested during anti-Putin protests in Moscow, some of which featured violent encounters between Putin's opposition and police.