I Predict a Riot...

"MOSCOW (AP) - Hundreds of demonstrators defied authorities Saturday by trying to stage an anti-government rally banned from a landmark downtown square, setting off sporadic clashes with police across Moscow and bringing a wave of arrests.

A coalition of opposition groups organized the 'Dissenters March' to protest the economic and social policies of President Vladimir Putin as well as a series of Kremlin actions that critics say has stripped Russians of many political rights.

Thousands of police officers massed to keep the demonstrators off Pushkin Square, beating some protesters and detaining many others, including Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion who has emerged as the most prominent leader of the opposition alliance."

Read the rest of the article here.

So, here's the breakdown of the situation (at least, as best as I can describe it; it's all very complicated):

There is an opposition group against Putin and the Kremlin (that would be with the world chess champion, Kasparov, a.k.a. the "United Civil Front"), and they wanted to protest at Pushkin Square...and march, calling for, essentially, the liquidation of Putin's regime. But, unfortunately for them, they just so happened to get their papers in one minute later than the other group. Who is this group, you ask? Why, the youths that support Putin, of course! So, Kasparov and his homies took up another location, further away from the center (Turgenev Square)...and they were forbidden to march. Now, what do you think a Russian is going to do when you tell him he's forbidden to march? It's like telling a kid not to peek inside the mysterious box in the corner, which also brings to mind Futurama episode.... Anyway, so of course they try and march to and through Pushkin Square. One problem. The Kremlin dispatched around 9,000 authorities to the area to prevent them from entering the square. Needless to say, many were arrested.

Why are these protests really so important? Well, remember those little revolutions called the Orange Revolutions? The most famous is probably the one that happened in the Ukraine about 3 years ago in 2004 (when Yuschenko was poisoned). The others occured in Georgia (2003) and Yugoslavia (2000). These puppies occur when a semi-authoritarian and corrupted regime appears to make its power through democratic means. In the Ukraine, there were falsified votes, which led to opposition, which led to the final acknowledgement of these falsified votes, and the opposition won, putting Yuschenko in power instead of Yanukovich.

[As a side note, Putin (and his regime) supported Yanukovich, not Yuschenko. Russia therefore entered Ukrainian politics, and in a way, almost threatening them; Russia would continue its cheap supply of gas to the Ukraine (which would in turn would sell it to Europe at European prices--a major part of Ukraine's economy) if the Ukrainians supported Yanukovich. If they didn't, then the gas flow would stop. Yeah, the Ukrainians got really p.o.'d at the Russians meddling in their affairs, and Yuschenko was elected, however, no compromise was found on the gas situation after Yuschenko was put into office. December 31, 2005-January 1, 2006, this supply was cut off, and a compromise was later found...no one really knows how it works, but someone, somewhere, is getting a heck of a lot of money. Typical Russia.]

Putin is considered, by many, to have too much power, that his rule is too similar to a totalitarian rule. And here are some stats: Compared to Europe, the "Index of Freedoms" in Russia have decreased from 58% before Putin took office, to 27%, in 2006. Russia's corruption level is rated as being next to Afghanistan's, and its internal policy is about as effective as Saudi Arabia's. Meetings with foriegn diplomats, mainly Western, have decreased by 2 times, while talks with Eastern countries, such as China, have increased (to a vague or unspecified amount).

The Kremlin has been keeping a pretty close watch on the opposition groups, and after the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, they initiated a group of youths that would support the Kremlin and fight against the opposition (called "наши"/"ours"). Putin and his regime are very nervous about a revolt, and they will show their force and take any necessary measure to prevent another Orange Revolution, however much of a mistake it may seem in preventing demonstrations, such as the one here in Moscow.

As my teacher said though, it is the psychology of the Russian people to rise against the government.


Below are some pictures from the protest/demonstration at/around Pushkin Square. Jeff, Jack, Celina, Nick, and myself went up there. Most are my pictures, with few thrown in from Jeff and Jack's collection. We basically decided to stay around Pushkin Square, where the pro-Putin demonstrators were at, instead of heading down to Turgenev Square, where the anit-Putin people were. Jeff wanted Kasparov's autograph though. The anti-Putin protesters who did manage to find their way down, were quickly apprehended or pushed out of area. Very interesting to watch.

Arrival at Pushkin Square.

When we arrived, it was cold, and we were hungry. But alas, our McDonalds was closed off due to some kind of protest. Those golden arches never looked so beautiful.

These were the culprits blocking our BigMacs and french fries. (The youths supporting Putin.)

And these guys (and girls) were protecting the pro-Putin demonstrators, surrounding that entire section.

Freeeeeedooooooom!!!!!!! The so-called "Freedom Riders".

Armed vehicles arrive.

9,000 dispatched.

Goin' to the bighouse...

My homies.

A bit of opposition going on across the street, near the pro-Putin rally.

Next to an exit from the Metro...no one was getting past these guys unless you had a pass...or a small child.

Peace brothah!

They should put this on the back of cereal box: Can you count all the chrome-domed OMON?

And then they came a'marchin': my youtube video

Eventually these guys were pushed out further, and probably went up to Turgenev Square. Yeah, I saw some black sticks flying...

These guys could be models...check out that posing!

Send in the Storm Troopers...

...And the army elite. A few moments after this picture was taken, they got a call, and jumped into their vehicles, and quickly sped away up the street. We didn't follow them.

They were going to the same place as well.

Ha! The clean-up crew still does their job! Now that's dedication.

Afterwards, we went in search for food, and ended up just outside of Red Square, which was naturally blocked off by authorites with shiney black sticks.

Riot control trucks to my left...


...Weddings to my right...

And just in case the 9,000 men with sticks weren't enough, they always could bring in the cavalry:

That's all folks!

Here's some better video someone else put up: detaining Kasparov.

Also, I should mention, their were a few other protests going on that day. One was protesting illegal immigration (which is the least of Russia's problems, trust me), and another was a Nazi demonstration, which was lead by none other than, yes, the skinheads. We stayed away from that one.


Peace out,

Jessica