Violent clashes in Russia as angry protesters call for Putin to resign over economy

[Psephos]

Source: UK Daily Mail

Russia was rocked today by some of its strongest protests yet as thousands rallied across the vast country to attack the Kremlin's response to the global economic crisis. The marches, complete with Soviet-style red flags and banners, pose a challenge to a government which has faced little threat from the fragmented opposition and politically apathetic population during the boom years fueled by oil.

Pro-government thugs beat up some of the protesters. About 2,500 people marched across the far eastern port of Vladivostok to denounce the Cabinet's decision to increase car import tariffs, shouting slogans urging Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to resign. Many there make their living by importing cars.

Meanwhile in Moscow arrests were made as about 1,000 diehard Communists rallied in a central square hemmed in by heavy police cordons. Communist Party chief Gennady Zyuganov told them the Kremlin must throw out Western capitalism and impose sweeping nationalisation.

Eduard Limonov, leader of the banned National Bolshevik Party - and one of the Kremlin's most radical critics - was arrested at another Moscow square.

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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1133002/Violent-clashes-Russia-angry-protesters-Putin-resign-economy.html

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[xchrom]

1. oh now -- THAT'S interesting.

[rockymountaindem]

2. This seems to be just some communist radicals

Until some people with mainstream credibility hit the streets (although I realize Zyuganov had a lot of support in the past), I'm sure Putin won't sweat.

[Lucky Luciano]

3. "politically apathetic population during the boom years fueled by oil."

Fickle people....no matter who was in charge, the economy would be screwed in Russia since they are so highly dependent on high commodity prices...so they were all very very happy until July.

[New Dawn]

6. Communists are mainstream in Russia

Election results only tell one part of the story. Numerous polls have shown that most Russians support the October Revolution, the USSR and nationalization of industry. Putin and Medvedev's party, United Russia, also steals votes in elections, especially from the Communist Party.

[DJ13]

4. The realization that the average citizen has been screwed over is spreading

France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Russia, Turkey.........

I wonder how long before our own mind numbed citizenry starts to face the truth.

[WheelWalker]

7. No longer, "Comfortably Numb." n/t

[grasswire]

8. you forgot Greece and Hungary

...to name just two others.

[Blue_Tires]

9. and Iceland

[MidwestTransplant]

5. be interesting to see what Russia and Iran do to try to jack the price of oil.

[madrchsod]

10. Putin just blamed the usa for the world`s economic problems

seems he has a problem with his own economics

[JVS]

11. Is this because a bank crisis or because oil has plummeted?

[go west young man]

12. Here's the answer:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/KA29Ag01.html

[Lucky Luciano]

14. oil has fallen partially because it was a bubble and partially

because the banking crisis spawned a massive worldwide recession that caused demand for oil to plummet.

[bemildred]

15. Yeah, the answer is both.

And all those hedge positions that had to get unwound real fast.

[newfie11]

13. See what happens when you give up socialism for democracy

everything goes to hell. :sarcasm: