MOSCOW, January 9 (RIA Novosti) - Police have detained members of pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi as well as the group's head, Nikita Borovikov, for holding an unsanctioned rally near the EU office in Moscow, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"We installed a bell that was to toll for democracy in Europe. The movement's leader spoke for a while, but police dispersed the rally quickly," Kristina Potupchik said.

She said the movement decided to hold a protest after some members were refused visas for Europe, in particular, Estonia and Finland.

Moscow police confirmed they had detained Borovikov and several other people, saying they would be fined in line with the law.

Today's rally was to mark the start of a series of protests Nashi is planning to hold near the EU office in Moscow every three days.

Nashi, founded in March 2005, has been involved in activities like a recent blockade of Estonia's Embassy in Moscow in response to the ex-Soviet Baltic state's decision to move a Soviet-era war monument in the capital, Tallinn.

The group also held rallies to garner support for United Russia party backed by President Vladimir Putin in the run-up to the December 2 parliamentary polls.

Borovikov, 26, replaced Vasily Yakemenko, who stepped down as leader of the Nashi, or Ours, movement and took up a top position with an Education Ministry committee on youth affairs, in December.