Russian Opposition March Ends Peacefully

More than 100 demonstrators have rallied in the southern Russian city of Chelyabinsk to protest what they call President Vladimir Putin's authoritarian policies. One of the organizers of the March of Dissent, Oleg Stifonov, told RFE/RL that the rally proceeded peacefully.

"Some 150 people took part in the event," Stifonov said. "The slogans were standard for all Marches of Dissent -- demands for the resignation of President Putin and other social slogans. The police behaved absolutely correctly."

No incidents or arrests were reported during the rally, which was organized by an anti-government coalition known as the Other Russia.

On several previous occasions in other Russian cities, such marches have been forcefully broken up by police.

Protesters marched with their banners folded due to an official ban on the rally.

A sanctioned opposition march was held without violence May 18 during a European Union-Russia summit in the city of Samara, but police prevented opposition leaders from reaching the venue.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org

Dinka's picture

Posted May 19th, 2007 by Dinka

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