Tensions in the major Urals city, caused by a project to rebuild a historic church in a central park, continued for the third consecutive night, with dozens of armored riot police deployed to protect the fence around the site from being dismantled by protesters. Unable to physically remove the contentious fence like they did the day before, the opponents of the church construction chanted various slogans, including political ones.

At first, the standoff was peaceful. The massive police presence did not move to disperse the protest at first, instead trying to persuade people to leave on their own, addressing them through loudspeakers. An RT Russian correspondent at the scene dismissed reports of tear gas being deployed, saying that police instead pushed people away from the fence.

However, as time moved past midnight, reports of scuffles and several dozen arrests came in, with no official count available. At one point it was claimed that stones and bottles flew towards riot police, while protesters complained about forceful detentions online.

Some people were spotted setting off firecrackers in the crowd or trying to hurl them at the police. Law enforcement reacted immediately, arresting several.

The crowd was eventually forced to retreat by the approaching police officers, with many shouting “shame.”

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