Protesters Beaten up in Russia

[jankren]

Dozens Detained at Russian Rally



Russian riot police have detained dozens of opposition protesters as they left a rally in the city of St Petersburg, the day after mass arrests at a march in Moscow.

Up to 2,000 demonstrators from the anti-Kremlin coalition, The Other Russia, gathered to call for free presidential elections when Putin steps down next year.

At least 1,500 members of the security forces, including hundreds of paramilitary police, deployed to prevent protesters from carrying out their promise to march on the mayor's office.

As the rally dispersed, police beat and detained anyone attempting to escape the security cordon.

Eduard Limonov, one of the leaders of the The Other Russia, was among those arrested, his spokesman said.

As protesters began to leave, police formed a corridor leading to the subway station and beat or detained all those attempting to break out.
A middle-aged woman was left with a bloody nose.

Police rushed to kick a man as he lay on the ground after falling from a fence he had tried to climb to escape the cordon.

Tensions rise

On Saturday in Moscow, 9,000 riot police and soldiers were deployed to prevent less than 2,000 Other Russia activists marching to a central square.

Police arrested some 200 protesters including Garry Kasparov, one of Other Russia's leaders and the former world chess champion.

He was released after being fined the equivalent of $40.

"It is no longer a country ... where the government tries to pretend it is playing by the letter and spirit of the law," Kasparov said outside the court building.

"We now stand somewhere between Belarus and Zimbabwe," he said.

Tensions are rising ahead of the March 2008 presidential election to replace Putin, who is constitutionally required to step down at the end of his second term.

Putin, who has overseen rapid economic growth in Russia, is popular and analysts believe that whoever the former KGB officer endorses as his successor will face little opposition.

Opponents say that overwhelming dominance is the result of a powerful state media machine, an economic bonanza from high world oil prices, and the growing power of the security forces.

Hmm, I thought the 'iron curtain' was lifted up already from Russia in the 90's.

[Gelgoog]

wooo i always love seeing the police beat up protestors!

[ErikinWest]

Russia is turning into an autocracy.

Erik

[jankren]

Russia kind of reminds me of Iran. Both countries are equally democratic in a sense. One is controlled by a group of elected businessmen (Oligarchy) while the other is controlled by a group of elected religious men (Theocracy).

[KaerMorhen]

One is controlled by a group of elected businessmen (Oligarchy).

that was before Putin showed up now he and his 'dvor' are the ones who rule the land. Most of 'old school' oligarchs are banished or imprisoned and replaced with those more servile to Kremlin. Imo the tension will decrease in coming day with more\less intensity cause election time is coming close. I'm far more curious what will be next Putins move - maybe he'll extend his cadency till 'matters will be settled down properly' and country will be prepared for new 'Tzar'. Anyways I don't think democracy like US/EU fits Russia and Russians well, from what I've observed they seem to be more satisfy with 'liberal autocracy' or by other words very strong presidential system*

*to be clear it's only my opinion!!!

[Skyler]

We now have live coverage from our Dolphin corrospondent in the field with valueble information regarding the evil dicator gone democratic Vladimir Putin

Dolphin tell us the latest news about Putins reactions regarding the riots


Yes Tom, You are looking smashing today but lay off the mascara.

Putin went to a martial arts show during or before or maybe possibly after the riots as if he was making a metaphorical statement; I am Putin and in hecks name I sure do love a good fight. Putin's entourage consisted of former kick-boxer and washed-up movie star Jeane Claud van Damme, As we all know Putin holds Van Damme in very high regards because and I quote Putin's words: ''He is the MAN that kicked more butt than I ever will''. On another note Putin is a nice fellow who loves vodka and democratic rhetoric values and does wear a dress funded by the former KGB. I am in no way saying these things under KGB pressure and they are not holding a gun pointed towards my forehead.

Back to you Thomas.

Thank you Dolphin... for your journalistic efforts..... and sharp analitic non biased opinion
sigh...... when will Dolphin receive his resignation? He is such a ********y aumature


*Ahem* Putin isn't a nice fellow in my books, I hope he gets a cute fluffy rabbit doll for his birthday, I should be able to hear him all across Europe when it does happen.

I am optimistic and assertive, I will just mail the bunny to him myself.

[Niles Crane]

Who cares about the other protesters? Kasparov was arrested. If he disappears, every chess player will rise up in arms against Russia.

[Skyler]

Who cares about the other protesters? Kasparov was arrested. If he disappears, every chess player will rise up in arms against Russia.

I can just only imagine the cool chess and semi- political threads that would spawn from Kasparovs disappearance.

[Pavlik the Rus]

Garry Kasparov, one of Other Russia's leaders and the former world chess champion.

He was released after being fined the equivalent of $40.

And who has disaapeared?

In reality it is much simlier. That action was allowed at one place. They met there, but then they want to march throu the city. If you don't know, trafic in Moscow is hard. And this "opositioners" blockading the one of the main street. Even more, began to strike the omon (police forces) with bottles. And fight has began. That was a simple provocation. Before this march, in his interview, Kasparov told that he will be arrested and the marsh will be supressed. And he done everything to make this in reality. Simple PR. Before they violated the law, nobody has harmed them. I live here, in Moscow, and i know what i'm telling about. And in the S-Peterburg the same. All this mess creates for foreign public and sponcores.
And what about Kasparov...
He is a political corps. He is at one band with thief ex-prime minister Kasianov aka "Misha 3%" and Eduard Savchenko aka Limonov. Limonov's party calls nazional-bolshevics. Two parts - nazi and bolshevicks, he has combined Nazi's and SU's flag as a simbol. beuatiful company, isn't it?
No one will belives to this clowns here.

[Niles Crane]

But he's still a damn good chess player.

[KaerMorhen]

A National-Bolsheviks that one sounds incredible!!!. Bolshevism is mostly what Lenin(supported by his hellhound Dzierzynsky) wanted it to be and 'cosmopolitism' is one of it's pillars. So how the hell you can put nationalism and bolshevism together??? - of course it is possible cause commies never truely were/are cosmopolitan. Imo the first true national-bolshevik was Dolphy and his crew when they took power in Germany in 1933.

[cegorach]

Actually the only thing which made the organisations protest together is the fact that except the controlled pro-Kremlin parties noone is allowed to 'compete' in any elections.
Of course it is not a case of banning the opposition altogether, but more cunning infringement of the democracy.
Organisations which are not under Kremlin's leadership (or their direct satelite parties) have notable troubles with media, registering for elections, renting a place for gatherings, getting permissions to manifest etc.

Russian politics is like a large circus - no ideas except loyalty towards Kremlin factions - a politician one day can be a social democrate, the next becomes a nationalist, the third day he is a liberal - all the time a pro-Kremlin one.

So we have pro-Kremlin One Russia (supposedly center-right), pro-Kremlin Fair Russia ( supposed socialists), Zhyrinovski's nationalists ( far-right populist satelite party), Ziuganov's communists ( far-left satelite) + possibly some sort of liberal 'party' created later if the Kremlin decides so.

In other words whatever you choose you vote for Kremlin. A 'true democracy'..

Anyway it has its uses for various kremlin factions which rival for influence to some limited extent and besides noone can dare that Russia is authoritarian - after all you have so many 'choices'.

[TAG]

Who cares about the other protesters? Kasparov was arrested. If he disappears, every chess player will rise up in arms against Russia.

Kasparov was arrested because he challenged Putin to a chess duel !

[Skyler]

Kasparov was arrested because he challenged Putin to a chess duel !

Kasparov is the superhuman chess-dutier pawning pawn defeating the almost chilling resemblance of IBM's Super chess computer Putin in monkey banana madness super donkey minute show, Goooooo Skippy gooo!

Heck, it made more sense in my head than on paper ( ).

[Pavlik the Rus]

2Foytaz
Emmm...
Is this to me or to Lemonov?

So how the hell you can put nationalism and bolshevism together???

I have not put them together, Lemoniov-Savchenko did. Looks like that you've misunderstood me. To me this is nonsence too. There was a sarcasm in my previous post.

2cegorach

a politician one day can be a social democrate, the next becomes a nationalist, the third day he is a liberal

They are all a prostitutes. And the main are

Zhyrinovski's nationalists

They have one ideology - money and power. More money - more power, more power - more money.

So we have pro-Kremlin One Russia

No. unfortunatly WE have it... And why "One"? More correct will be a United Russia

pro-Kremlin Fair Russia ( supposed socialists)

Main dark horse.

Zhyrinovski's nationalists ( far-right populist satelite party)

prostitutes

Ziuganov's communists

Outdated weak minded men. The same like the others in fact. Money, money, money...

In other words whatever you choose you vote for Kremlin. A 'true democracy'

What is a true democrasy? Where it is exists in quite large and important state?

In reality all those "opositioners" are simple faik.
When i hear a word politician, an opositioner, i imagen a man who says about political programm:
What do you think about social programs? - I think that necessary blah blah blah
What do you think about foreign policy? - I think that necessary blah blah blah
What do you think about judgement system in country? - I think that necessary blah blah blah

BUT our dear oppositioners (Kasparov, Misha 3%, Savchenko-Lemonov, Berezovskiy and other scum):
What do you think about social programs? - Puteen BOOO!!!!
What do you think about foreign policy? - Puteen BOOO!!!!
What do you think about judgement system in country? - Puteen BOOO!!!!
And that's it. This clowns will never get a support in our society. No one tells his thoughts about some material problems, only BOOOO!!!!
They are not beter than those who answers on all this questions with "Puteen rulezzzz!!!"

[cegorach]

2Foytaz


What is a true democrasy? Where it is exists in quite large and important state?

I was ironic Pavlik

BUT our dear oppositioners (Kasparov, Misha 3%, Savchenko-Lemonov, Berezovskiy and other scum):
What do you think about social programs? - Puteen BOOO!!!!
What do you think about foreign policy? - Puteen BOOO!!!!
What do you think about judgement system in country? - Puteen BOOO!!!!
And that's it. This clowns will never get a support in our society. No one tells his thoughts about some material problems, only BOOOO!!!!
They are not beter than those who answers on all this questions with "Puteen rulezzzz!!!"

I agree. Both sides look pretty disgusting.

First time I can say I agree with you almost completelly. +1 rep.

[KaerMorhen]

2Foytaz
Emmm...
Is this to me or to Lemonov?

Quote:
So how the hell you can put nationalism and bolshevism together???

I have not put them together, Lemoniov-Savchenko did. Looks like that you've misunderstood me. To me this is nonsence too. There was a sarcasm in my previous post.

in fact I was refering to no one just 'free' deliberations but if you'll focus at bolshevism and nationalism and try to fit them together 'right' - you'll have NSDAP as a result. Just think about it - all those BS about workers class brotherhood, foreign malicious intensions and alike from one side and add strong national preservation and supremacy from another and you'll get "Mein Kampf 2"

...only sad thing is there'll always someone who wants to follow that way and dumbness and indolecy of 'nowdays political elites' only helps such 'individuals' to grow in power quicly...not only in Russia

[RusskiSoldat]

Fair Russia is not a dark horse, they are a rival gang.
Obviously both parties (neither Putin's) have to support the government to continue their existence, but that doesn't mean they don't have their own ideas for it.
Given that Putin can hardly afford to trust either of the two parties supposedly for him and that the nominee for president from his circle will likely be a member of neither, perhaps some sort of democracy (in the form of top tier powergrabbing made public) will emerge.

[Khan Kong]

This was well-known before the protest took place that it is for nothing but to make disorder. It was made intentionally to disgrace Putin, to raise western public opinion against him. I wasn't surprised at all, quite the contrary It would have been unexpected for me if it was peaceful.

Anyways I don't think democracy like US/EU fits Russia and Russians well, from what I've observed they seem to be more satisfy with 'liberal autocracy' or by other words very strong presidential system*

Agree here. Why to force Russia make western-type democracy if it doesn't fit? IMO such a large territory with many national regions can be held only by wealthy or a strong leader. Since the people are still poor, the only option is a popular leader.

Organisations which are not under Kremlin's leadership (or their direct satelite parties) have notable troubles with media, registering for elections, renting a place for gatherings, getting permissions to manifest etc.

We have an oppositional party that is Yabloko (btw it gets enough votes in elections), whose political programme is to make western-type democracy, but for some reason Berezovsky and his friends doesn't promote it. Instead he makes such provocational protests and send his emissaries Kasparov and Kasianov. I think it means only that in reality he has no interest to remove "autocratic regime" and make democracy, but desires to make his own autocratic rule. And I can assure you it won't be democratic at all. That's why he is so dangerous, he is modern Lenin but the difference is that nobody likes him.

[jankren]

Agree here. Why to force Russia make western-type democracy if it doesn't fit? IMO such a large territory with many national regions can be held only by wealthy or a strong leader. Since the people are still poor, the only option is a popular leader.

That makes me realise that Russia is actually more like the only surviving empire in this world. The country covers different lands and people. So it makes sense that complete rule by the people might not work in an empire because it consist of so many distinctly different people. Even the Roman Empire realised that their large empire could no longer maintain complete democracy thus they decided to elect an empreror with absolute power who can make harsh judgements in solving some problems in the empire.