Human Rights Activists Detained at Moscow U2 Concert

MUSIC NEWS - Human rights activists from Amnesty International were arrested prior to U2's concert last night, August 25, in Moscow, one day after Bono met for tea with the rock-music-loving president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev at the president's residence near the Black Sea resort of Sochi.  Members of the  organization were held after they distributed leaflets outside the venue, despite the organization and the band's management under the impression that they had the necessary permits.

"Our activities were agreed with U2's management, so we are very much surprised," Amnesty International director Ivan Blokov told the BBC News.   During the concert, U2's first in Russia, the band was joined onstage by Russian rocker turned politician Yuri Shevchuk, who sang Bob Dylan's classic 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' with Bono & company.  Of Mr Shevchuk, Bono said he is "a great man".  On Sunday, Shevchuk appeared at a banned concert in central Moscow to protest against plans to build a motorway through a forest.