Moscow police detained five people on Sunday for organizing an unauthorized St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Well over 1,000 people gathered in Moscow's main tourist stretch, Stary Arbat, on Sunday afternoon for the march, which has been a yearly tradition in the Russian capital since 1992.
But this year's parade was cancelled by new Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin due to safety and traffic concerns. The crowd was quickly dispersed by police.
Irish Ambassador to Russia Philip McDonagh said the cancellation was "in view of the cold weather and the priority that is being given at present to resolving Moscow's traffic problems."
The Moscow authorities organized a number of other events in place of the parade, including a concert of Irish music.
MOSCOW, March 21 (RIA Novosti)
