Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said she was concerned by the Elysee Palace’s silence over police use of force during demonstrations by French high school students, now in their second week.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said she was concerned that the Elysee Palace had not responded to police actions during protests by French high school students. Her comments aired on Sputnik radio and were reported by RIA Novosti on Oct. 7.
RIA Novosti said students have been protesting for a second week against overloaded timetables, teacher shortages and other problems in education. The agency reported that more than 6,000 people had been detained, most of them minors. Le Monde also reported more than 6,000 detainees since the movement began, but did not confirm their age breakdown.
Some demonstrations have been marked by clashes: police used tear gas and stun grenades after protesters threw rubbish bins at officers accompanying a march. French media also reported tear gas in Toulouse, Lyon, Nantes, Rennes and Laval. The Associated Press reported tear gas in Paris and other cities during Oct. 6 demonstrations in support of the students.