Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the current level of rearmament of Russia’s military is similar to the Soviet Union's rearmament toward the end of World War II.
Demonstrators met in Moscow to mark the day a year ago that ended in clashes with the police and broke the back of the anti-Putin movement
A year on from Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin, thousands of Muscovites rallied in a central Moscow square to protest against his rule. “Putin is a thief!” was a popular chant at the rally. “We are fighting for Russia, for our country, our future,” said Gennady Gudkov a former MP who has been stripped of his mandate since joining the opposition movement.
BY ANDREW E. KRAMER
demonstrations
protests
and riots
russia
political prisoners
moscow (russia)
putin
vladimir v
The demonstration occurred on the anniversary of an event that turned violent and precipitated a crackdown by President Vladimir V. Putin. 
     |
russia
europe
world news
protest
the guardian
news
world news
Up to 20,000 people rally in Moscow a year after violent clashes over Vladimir Putin's third presidential inauguration
Up to 20,000 Russian opposition supporters have protested against the Kremlin, demanding the release of political prisoners. Protests exactly a year ago in the same square the day before Vladimir Putin's third presidential inauguration ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and police.Participants in Monday's rally, which passed off peacefully amid heavy police cordons, called for the release of more than two dozen people facing criminal charges from last year's protest.
Since Putin returned to office, the authorities have taken legal action against opposition activists, and the Kremlin-controlled parliament has quickly approved a series of repressive bills that sharply increased fines for participation in unauthorised rallies and imposed new restrictions on civil society activists.
Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader facing trial on embezzlement charges he said were fabricated on Putin's orders, urged protesters to "throw [Putin] out of the Kremlin". His chant of "Russia will be free!" was repeated by the crowd.
A scuffle erupted when a small group of pro-Putin activists shouted provocative slogans. Police escorted them away.
A few hours before the rally, a man helping build the stage was killed when sound equipment collapsed on him. Officials are investigating the incident.
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
READ THE WHOLE STORY
· ·
John Kerry is to use a trip to Moscow to convince Russia it must act to break the international deadlock over Syria after President Vladimir Putin intervened directly to demand an explanation for Israeli airstrikes against targets in Syria last weekend.
|
Read more: http://mikenova.newsblur.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment