MOSCOW, November 5 (RIA Novosti) - Nearly 30 people were detained in downtown Moscow on Wednesday, when Russia celebrated People's Unity Day, the chief Moscow police spokesman said.

"A total of 29 young people were detained today when trying to hold an unsanctioned rally in the center of the [Russian] capital," Viktor Biryukov said.

Biryukov did not say whether those detained belonged to any political or public movement. He said they were taken to a police station and then released.

"On the whole, the celebrations of People's Unity Day in Moscow were held without serious incidents," he said, adding that 33,000 people attended the festive events.

In Russia's second largest city, St. Petersburg, brief clashes were reported to have taken place on Wednesday between nationalists and anti-fascists.