Al-Jazeera (Saturday): Anti-Putin rally in Moscow

[Jack Rabbit]

From al-Jazeera
Dated Saturday December 16

Anti-Putin rally in Moscow

About 2,500 Russians rallied in central Moscow to protest recent electoral law changes that the demonstrators said is enlarging Kremlin's growing authoritarianism.

The protesters were met on by thousands of helmeted riot police, soldiers, attack dogs and a circling helicopter.

Opposition leaders said the show of force revealed the Kremlin's fear of dissent.

The demonstration, organised by several opposition groups who united under the banners of the Other Russia movement, was dubbed the "March of Those Who Disagree".

Read more.

[maddezmom]

1. Hundreds detained ahead of Moscow rally

MOSCOW - Russian authorities pulled hundreds of opposition activists off buses and trains and detained them along with scores of others on Saturday ahead of a rare anti-government rally in Moscow, organizers said.

The police action did not prevent more than 2,000 people from gathering in a central square, where leftist and liberal groups demanded that Russian President Vladimir Putin stop what they called Russia's retreat from democracy.

more http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_on_re_eu/russia_opposition

[Joanne98]

2. I don't see much difference between this and what Bush has been

doing. At least they didn't have to get permits then get put in a protest pen. I wonder what all this Putin bashing is really about.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. What is it about?

Increasing presidential authority, restriction of civil liberties, corruption and outright murder. Perhaps radioactive metals used in assassination by poison should be renamed Putinium, do you think?

What permits? The government tried to ban this march and the protest organizers went ahead anyway.

[originalpckelly]

6. I'd say that Bush is Putin in training.

Imagine if tomorrow, all the states no longer had elected governors, but that they were appointed by the President. You and I would rightfully protest that.

Putin has had that ability for a while now.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Exactly

Bush has gone too far. Putin has gone further yet.

[IndianaGreen]

3. BBC: Security high at anti-Putin rally

Look at all the cops! Looks like one of Bush's First Amendment Zones.



Security high at anti-Putin rally

Opponents of President Vladimir Putin have staged a protest against what they see as the Russian leadership's increasing authoritarianism.

Organisers, including former chess champion Garry Kasparov, had hoped up to 5,000 people would attend. But turnout was about 2,000.

Some witnesses said their numbers were dwarfed by the police and security service presence in central Moscow.

A police helicopter flew overhead, threatening to drown out chants.

The demonstration comes 15 months before the next presidential election.

Although Mr Putin is not eligible to stand, analysts believe his popularity is such that whoever he backs is assured of an easy victory.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6181613.stm

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Thanks, IG

And I will confess I found this piece this morning searching the morning chess news. In fact, that's where I've been following this story all week.

[Endangered Specie]

8. Old habits die hard.

[CJCRANE]

9. Does anyone else think there's a strange similarity...

'99 Moscow apt bombings ... Sept 11th 2001
Invasion of Chechnya ... Invasion of Iraq
(Govt issue) Polonium ... (Govt issue) Anthrax

[TheLastMohican]

10. You know what is the problem with other Russian leaders?

They are always in bed with US neocons or being fed from their numerous NGO funds. Russians see that and sense the danger. There is no way any one of them can win the Russian elections if they are being patted on the back by the likes of Lugar and Bzezinski.
Russia is becoming an independent world player, contrary to what the neocon think tanks want.