Moscow prepares for the largest anti-Putin demonstration
by Nina Achmatova
At Baltonaja Square, over 30,000 people are expected to protest against electoral fraud of the legislators that have crowned Putin's party the winner. Demonstrations also in 14 other cities.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - Everything is ready in Moscow's Bolotnaja Square for the anti-fraud demonstration, which should bring into the streets today more than 30,000 people in what could become the largest demonstration against the government of the Putin era.
Due to the large turnout expected, the authorities and the event's organizers - the Solidarnost movement - have agreed to move the demonstration from Revolution Square to Balotnaja Square, still just a stone's throw from the Kremlin.
Initially the meeting was authorized for a maximum of 300 people, but after the call to descend to the streets collected thousands of signatures online, the authorities and city hall were forced to revise their plans. On the event's "transfer", the movement is divided between those who will follow the event agreed upon with the council and those who won't.
The appointment for the protesters remains at 2:00 p.m. at Revolution Square, to then march up to Balotnaja, escorted by officers, as some members of Solidarnost report. There will be a massive deployment of forces, including police, the army and special units. At Balotnaja Square alone, there are 12 army trucks and just as many from Omon special forces. Even the web is under constant surveillance by secret services, who in recent days have tried to block the formation of pro-opposition groups.
The owners of the apartments facing the square are trying to rent out their rooms overlooking the site of the protest to television and radio channels that will cover the event. It is said that the tenants have asked the State channels for twice the price of what they've asked the independent stations.
Protests against the fraud that took place during the December 4 legislative elections will also be held in 14 other cities across the country. In Vladivostok, in Far Eastern Russia, the demonstration has already taken place and was held without clashes, gathering about 500 people.
This is the first public challenge to Putin, who has led the state for 12 years, and whose popularity began to decline at the end of September, immediately after his plan was announced to return to the Kremlin with the March presidential elections, which spread among the people a sense of helplessness and frustration.
Due to the large turnout expected, the authorities and the event's organizers - the Solidarnost movement - have agreed to move the demonstration from Revolution Square to Balotnaja Square, still just a stone's throw from the Kremlin.
Initially the meeting was authorized for a maximum of 300 people, but after the call to descend to the streets collected thousands of signatures online, the authorities and city hall were forced to revise their plans. On the event's "transfer", the movement is divided between those who will follow the event agreed upon with the council and those who won't.
The appointment for the protesters remains at 2:00 p.m. at Revolution Square, to then march up to Balotnaja, escorted by officers, as some members of Solidarnost report. There will be a massive deployment of forces, including police, the army and special units. At Balotnaja Square alone, there are 12 army trucks and just as many from Omon special forces. Even the web is under constant surveillance by secret services, who in recent days have tried to block the formation of pro-opposition groups.
The owners of the apartments facing the square are trying to rent out their rooms overlooking the site of the protest to television and radio channels that will cover the event. It is said that the tenants have asked the State channels for twice the price of what they've asked the independent stations.
Protests against the fraud that took place during the December 4 legislative elections will also be held in 14 other cities across the country. In Vladivostok, in Far Eastern Russia, the demonstration has already taken place and was held without clashes, gathering about 500 people.
This is the first public challenge to Putin, who has led the state for 12 years, and whose popularity began to decline at the end of September, immediately after his plan was announced to return to the Kremlin with the March presidential elections, which spread among the people a sense of helplessness and frustration.
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