While "supporters of federalisation" in eastern Ukraine have won many plaudits from Russian politicians and state media, those promoting similar ideas in Russia's own regions have been interrogated and detained by police. Pro-federalism protests in Siberia banned after at least nine activists held\ At least nine activists who are calling for greater regional autonomy in Russia have been detained by police in recent days over protests calling for greater federalism in the country. Marches planned for Sunday were banned in Siberia and in the south of the country. In Siberia's largest city, Novosibirsk, four organisers of a march for Siberian federalisation planned for Sunday were detained and questioned as part of a potential criminal case, according to the human rights organisation OVD Info. Authorities previously banned the march and threatened to block the BBC Russian service over an interview with an organiser. Darya Polyudova, an organiser of the similarly banned march for the federalisation of Kuban a historical name for the Krasnodar territory in southern Russia was detained on Friday after an unknown man began arguing with her on the street, according to OVD Info. She was arrested for 14 days on charges of hooliganism, a fellow activist tweeted on Sunday. Two organisers of the Novosibirsk march were detained in a neighbouring region on Thursday on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone and were not able to return in time for the planned protest, OVD Info and Russian media reported. http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...sts-banned-siberia-russia-nine-activists-held
