World

Anti-Putin Protest Draws Tens of Thousands

 

Anti Putin Protest Draws Tens of Thousands

AP

MOSCOW (AP) — Tens of thousands of demonstrators on Saturday cheered opposition leaders and jeered the Kremlin in the biggest show of outrage yet against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule.

The Moscow demonstration was even bigger than a similar rally two weeks ago, signaling that the protest movement ignited by the fraud-tainted Dec. 4 parliamentary election may be growing. Protest were also held in dozens of other cities and towns across Russia.

Rally participants densely packed a broad avenue, which has room for nearly 100,000 people, about 2.5 kilometers (some 1.5 miles) from the Kremlin, as the temperature dipped well below freezing. They chanted “Russia without Putin!”

Anti Putin Protest Draws Tens of Thousands

A stage at the end of the 700-meter (0.43 mile) avenue featured placards reading “Russia will be free” and “This election Is a farce.” Heavy police cordons encircled the participants, who stood within metal barriers, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.

Alexei Navalny, a corruption-fighting lawyer and popular blogger, electrified the crowd when he took the stage. A rousing speaker, he had protesters shouting “We are the power!”

Navalny spent 15 days in jail for leading a protest on Dec. 5 that unexpectedly drew more than 5,000 people and set off the chain of demonstrations. Since his release, he has helped to further galvanize the opposition.

Putin’s United Russia party lost 25 percent of its seats in the election, but hung onto a majority in parliament through what independent observers said was widespread fraud. United Russia, seen as representing a corrupt bureaucracy, has become known as the party of crooks and thieves, a phrase coined by Navalny.

“We have enough people here to take the Kremlin,” he shouted to the crowd. “But we are peaceful people and we won’t do that — yet. But if these crooks and thieves keep cheating us, we will take what is ours.”

The recent protests in Moscow and other cities have dented Putin’s authority as he seeks to reclaim the presidency in a March vote. The Kremlin has responded by promising a set of political reforms that would allow more political competition in future elections.

But protest leaders say they will continue pushing for a rerun of the parliamentary election and punishment for officials accused of vote fraud. They say maintaining momentum is key to forcing Putin’s government to accept their demands.

“We don’t trust him,” opposition leader Boris Nemtsov told the rally, urging protesters to gather again next month to make sure that the proposed changes are put into law. Along with liberals, the rally also drew Communists and nationalists.

Nemtsov called on the demonstrators to go to the polls in March to unseat Putin. “A thief must not sit in the Kremlin,” he said.

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov was among an array of speakers who sought to give the protesters a sense of empowerment.

“There are so many of us here, and they (the government) are few,” Kasparov said from the stage. “They are huddled up in fear behind police cordons.”

Many in the crowd were young.

“We want to back those who are fighting for our rights,” said 16-year-old Darya Andryukhina, who said she had also attended the previous rally.

“People have come here because they want respect,” said Tamara Voronina, 54, who said she was proud that her three sons also had joined the protest.

The protests reflect a growing public frustration with Putin, who ruled Russia as president in 2000-2008 and has remained the No. 1 leader after moving into the prime minister’s seat due to a constitutional term limit. Brazen fraud in the parliamentary vote unexpectedly energized the middle class, which for years had been politically apathetic.

“No one has done more to bring so many people here than Putin who managed to insult the whole country,” said Viktor Shenderovich, a columnist and satirical writer.

Putin has accused the United States of fomenting the protests in order to weaken Russia and has said, sarcastically, that he thought the white ribbons many protesters wear as an emblem were condoms.

In response to Putin’s blustery rhetoric, one protester Saturday held a picture montage of Putin with his head wrapped in a condom like a grandmother’s headscarf.

“We can’t tolerate such a show of disrespect for the people, for the entire nation,” journalist and music critic Artyomy Troitsky said in a speech at the rally. He wore a white gown that resembled a condom, mocking Putin’s comment.

Although Putin has derided the demonstrators as Western stooges, he has also sought to soothe public anger by promising to relax his grip on the political scene.

He has promised to liberalize registration rules for opposition parties and restore the direct election of governors he abolished in 2004. Putin’s stand-in as president, Dmitry Medvedev, spelled out those and other proposed changes in Thursday’s state-of-the nation address, promising to restore direct elections to fill half of the seats in parliament and ease rules for the presidential election.

Some opposition leaders welcomed the proposals, but stressed the need for the protests to continue to force the Kremlin to quickly turn the promises into law.

“These measures are insufficient,” said Arina Zhukova, 45, another participant in Saturday’s rally. “They are intended to calm people down and prevent them from showing up at rallies.”

The electoral changes, however, will only apply to a new election cycle years away, and the opposition has stressed the need to focus on preventing fraud in the March presidential election and mounting a consolidated challenge to Putin.

Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, who lost his seat after complaining about increased defense spending, surprised the protesters by saying the current parliament should approve the electoral changes and then step down to allow new elections to be held.

Kudrin, who remains close to Putin, warned that the wave of protests could lead to violence and called for establishing a dialogue between the opposition and the government. “Otherwise we will lose the chance for peaceful transformation,” he said.

In another sign of the authorities’ efforts to stem the tide of public anger, the presidential human rights commission early Saturday echoed protesters’ demands in a statement condemning violations in the vote and calling for the ouster of Central Election Commission chief Vladimir Churov.

It said that allegations of widespread fraud have led to a “moral and political discrediting of the election system and the lower house of parliament, creating a real threat to the Russian state.”

____

Vladimir Isachenkov and Lynn Berry contributed to this report.

Comments (91)

1 2 3
  • symphonic
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:22pm

    Whatever happened to good old fashioned RIGHTEOUS leaders who don’t rape the people, the land, and take 4 MILLION dollar vacations in Hawaii on the backs of the people? Whatever happened to George Washington, who I know would NOT have done that?

    Report Post » symphonic  
    • From Virginia
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:50pm

      Shoot – Washington had to be dragged kicking and screaming for both terms – especially the second. All this guy wanted to do was go home and fish. He also knew early death was heriditary in the males in his family. Poor guy – he was right. When he finally got home he only had a few years before a simple cold turned into pnumonia and killed him.

      My long winded point is we need a guy who doesn’t want the job. Ryan and West come to mind.

      Report Post »  
    • zzbear
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 7:22pm

      Remember what McCain said about Putin? “I look at him and I see one thing: KGB” Russia is supplying weapons to our enemies and openly opposing our foreign policy actions. We may have won the cold war, but the enemy has regrouped and re-aligned its allies. Glenn Beck speaks of how our enemy of our enemy isn’t necessarily our friend – well, for sure the friend of our enemy probably isn’t our friend. Time to grow eyes in the backs of our heads, or at least, elect representatives that are serious about national defense. Col. West will eventually be called upon to lead this fine nation – mark my words.

      Report Post » zzbear  
  • Akridgerunner
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:18pm

    As I sat here reading this article I summoned my host’s Russian wife who grew up in the FSU. I tell you she filled my ear on this issue, and she knows firsthand. She tells of an older lady friend who worked for 45 yrs in Magadan just to get a $300/month pension from their government. After paying for heat and electricity and rent she has about $0 left for food. She was on Skype with this lady this morning and arranged to send her $2000 of her own hard-earned money – she cooks in mining camps – so that her friend, who has serious health problems, can get a surgery which will likely end in amputation of at least half of a leg. She has told me stories like this for the past few years. We need to air drop thousands of our budding Communists from the US into interior and eastern Russia so they can see what the Great Experiment is really like. They don’t seem to realize that it has been tragic and dismal failure. 50 miles outside of Moscow they don’t even have electricity and use kerosene lamps. How many of us are up for that??

    Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:36pm

      I’m a PARidgerunner but I digress. The problem with our budding socialists as you put it is that they cannot see the pain and misery of what this evil system has wrought on the world but continue to lavish praises on it even while its plain to see how terrible it will be. The seem to think that they alone will do it better than these trolls thus continuing the experiment of human misery for yet another generation but for an American one. We are already beyond the point of no return because a whole generation of young people are mentally infected with this utopian story that never materializes and the politcians just keep the drum beat going saying “If we just regulate this or that then and only then we can see a future bright and shiny for all mankind. I want that future too but it will be one under one God and his prince the Lord Jesus.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
    • quiltgal
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 4:01pm

      I love your airdrop suggestion. Go Communists in the U.S.! I really mean go, get outta here!

      Report Post »  
    • MacWell
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:17pm

      It’s the same old story. These young people who’ve been indoctrinated into believing that good old communism is the very best way to run a country. The problem historically with socialism/communism is that the countries that tried it didn’t have the right leaders. That the idea of all of us doing the right thing all of the time, without thought of recompense, is rather an intoxicating idea to some people. the problem is that the people who find the ideal interesting aren’t the ones who do the right thing on their own. The professors who preach this garbage explain away the misery by putting the blame on the leaders “bad intentions” or “personal bugaboos” instead of the concept itself. The whole concept of communism is self defeating. It encourages lethargy. It saps the concept of self importance which is necessary for any people to thrive and better themselves. In short, communism is a joke, much like the bum who stopped me a said, ” I haven’t had a bite all day”, so I bit him.

      Report Post » MacWell  
    • Miami
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 7:06pm

      Hell guys we don’t even have to fly them all the way to Russia, we can drop them off in Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia. You name a Marxist country and you‘ll get the same effect These are all lessons on why we can’t have another Obama term.

      May you all enjoy the Lord’s blessings. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night…

      Report Post » Miami  
    • ConservativeCharlie
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 7:57pm

      I hope freedom wins out all over the world. We are at a turning point. Freedom or WWIII seems to be our options. I choose freedom. If we are not careful its going to be just like this song says, our last christmas on earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Jja7-lTzk

      Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:28pm

      Is that a Condom around Putin’s head?

      I just wondered how many in that crowd were at one time the “useful idiots” that voted and supported Socialism. Do you want to see America’s future – go to the President of the Philippine’s Website and see his Christmas Photos – while his whole country is barely able to feed themselves, and Heath Care is atrocious.

      Report Post » db321  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:41pm

      @Akridgerunner
      “She tells of an older lady friend who worked for 45 yrs in Magadan just to get a $300/month pension from their government. After paying for heat and electricity and rent she has about $0 left for food. She was on Skype with this lady this morning…”

      If the lady in Russia has $0 leftover after paying heat and electricity and rent how can she afford an Internet connection to go on Skype? And the computer, the headset, etc? Is that all provided by the Russian Government for free? Just curious.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:45pm

      Is that a condom wrapped around Putin’s head in the photo? Weird!

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:15pm

    And, it is impossible to tell the Truth.

    Report Post »  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:14pm

    he does not have light in him.

    Report Post »  
    • searching for the Truth
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:21pm

      The devil – not Putin.

      Report Post »  
    • Robert999
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:57pm

      President GW Bush does not agree. In 2001, he said, “I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue.

      “I was able to get a sense of his soul.

      “He’s a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country.”

      Report Post »  
    • zzbear
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 7:32pm

      To Robert 999:
      I think George Bush and Obama are a lot alike – neither one of them was worthy of the Presidency. Unlike Obama, Bush had the right intentions. McCain was trained military and doesn’t need an advisor to see the soul behind the eyes. GW was too trusting of his advisors and people in general, and his thoughts on Putin are just one example.

      Report Post » zzbear  
  • Silverwolf00
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:14pm

    Well I don’t think you can count the communists out. If you read the article then you know that the communists were in the crowd. If all hell breaks lose and they (the protestors) get their way it will come down to who’s the most organized… So in Russia who do you think is the most organized? Remember the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and else where…? Something to think about. I’ve made a living studying patterns for troubleshooting purposes and I see a pattern here…

    Report Post » Silverwolf00  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:32pm

      Agree with you. Most organized wins. Just like our International Lefties have been quietly organizing and brainwashing all over the globe. Remember the old Communist cells ? Am sure all of that didn’t just go away when the Communist Party lost when the USSR was disbanded. All still there. All still selling that ” anti-rich/ fat cat/ bankers/ CEOs / capitalism . ” Sounds familiar. Hmmm. Where have I heard that talk here ? Hmmm. Oh, I remember it was Obama. And then the Occupy WALL STREET . Do you suppose there is any relationship ? Hmmmmm. And our local White House Franchise is also sooooo very organized. Such Media control. Propaganda Machine in the Dominant Media. The Human mic. The Occupies in Democrat controlled cities. Pattern here ? Wow.

      Report Post »  
    • zzbear
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 7:35pm

      I believe you are correct. The good news? I think conservatism woke up in time. Hopefully in time to save Europe, but surely in time to give the US a fighting chance against the Big Red Machine.

      Report Post » zzbear  
  • Rational Man
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:00pm

    The picture of Putin with a condom on his head is a stark contrast to the images of him acting all macho riding a horse shirtless. Obviously, the Russian people see him differently than he pictures himself. Much like the stark contrast in the view the American people have of Obama and how he views himself. Pretty funny!

    Report Post » Rational Man  
  • neverending
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:40pm

    Hope these people remember putin does not “play nice”! Can’t imagine it will be very long before he brings out the really big sticks.

    Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:39pm

    Speaking of Communism, NPR ran a segment about a black family in South Carolina ( of course, NPR ran the Joe Wilson “ you lie ” bit ) who had a lengthy discussion how race was the “big obstacle” in America and praising Obamna for doing so well in-spite of all the racism he faced and the obstructionism of the Republicans ( can you get the drift of this bit of biased electioneering ) BUT the real kicker was a little comment tucked neatly at the end which said that CAPITALISM was inherently racist ! Good old NPR. Good old International Left. Good God = this was stated like it was just “ everybody knows this ” on a national radio show ! These people are destroying this country while our DOJ plays the Race Card in South Carolina voting laws over “minorities” rights ( illegals without picture driver’s licenses BECAUSE they are illegals! ) which is the SAME Race Card/ Discrimination Card which collapsed the housing market ! Just destroying Capitalism. one bad policy after another. Eric Holder…

    Report Post »  
  • rockstone
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:34pm

    This kind of thing just doesn’t work out well………

    Report Post » rockstone  
  • Matthew
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:08pm

    Be careful what you wish for. Just like the middle east, Russia is not a nation known for its traditions of democracy or liberty. Sometimes its better to dance with the devil you know. I’m sure the people who ousted to Tzar thought things were going to get better, instead they got several generations worth of mass murderers ruling their country.

    Report Post »  
    • chattr
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:44pm

      Well said Matthew; in fact, Russia has no history of democracy.

      Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:50am

    “We have enough people here to take the Kremlin,” he shouted to the crowd. “But we are peaceful people and we won’t do that — yet. But if these crooks and thieves keep cheating us, we will take what is ours.”

    Gee, doesn’t that sound familiar?

    Time to boot all politicians out of office in 2012. Elect new ones, Impose Term limits, get rid of secial interest groups and get this country back on track!

    Report Post » randy  
    • sandy21957
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:03pm

      These protestors aren’t Alinsky fans. They don’t want communism, dictators, power elite in the Stalin/KGB sense. I don’t believe they are Bolsheviks. If they don’t exert their presence and show their strength, they will be put down like China did the Tienanmen Square and Syria is doing to their own people.

      Report Post » sandy21957  
    • symphonic
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Difference is, in China, only a handful stood up to the tanks. They were far too conditioned to just give in to the demands of the dictatorship

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • John 3:16
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:08pm

      AMEN to what RANDY said!!!

      Report Post » John 3:16  
  • barber2
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:50am

    Troitsky sounds like one of our Saul Alinski disciples ! Using ridicule and Mocking Putin with a condom scarf! Guess Saul had kindred souls beyond our American community organizers . Have a feeling Putin has just met his match with the newly empowered International Lefties , Moscow franchise. Going to be interesting to see how KGB Boy Putin fares with the old USSR Communist Party ! Amazing how unified the International Left has become , so quietly under the surface, since the ‘ fall” on Communism ! Franchises all over the globe. Have read comments from their supporters in the New York Times for the past few years. A silent enemy to capitalism..chewing away ..

    Report Post »  
  • sandy21957
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:45am

    On another note….Putin needs to step away from the Restylane and laser resurfacing. He’s starting to look like Lenin.

    Report Post » sandy21957  
  • sandy21957
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:38am

    Putin doesn‘t want to give up power because he would have to give up his plundering of Russia’s wealth. He’s become a mega millionaire because he took/manipulated his way through Russia’s assets. Sounds like Pelosi but on steroids. Putin will eventual try to pull a Lenin or Stalin response to the protests and the US will have an impotent response, just like they have done consistently for the last 90 years.

    Report Post » sandy21957  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:33am

    They don‘t like Putin because he’s black. No wait…

    You gotta admit though. Those Russian fur hats that make you look like you’ve got a straight hair afro are enough to make you want move there. How do they keep you warm? They don’t even cover your ears. Oh that’s what the vodka is for? Okay.

    Report Post » ShyMan  
    • heyjim55
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:57pm

      I own a hat like that and wore it in Russia in -30 degree temps while staying in Siberia with my wife’s family . They keep your head very warm , some Russians will pull down the ear flaps on those fur hats when the wind is strong. But Russians are used to the climate and they can handle extremely cold weather for long periods of time, I personally love that hat and ware it here whenever I get the chance.

      Report Post »  
    • mbriz
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:58pm

      Racist bag of crap, you’ve been brainwashed well clone, now do us a favor, and jump.

      Report Post » mbriz  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:55pm

      MBRITZ: “racist bag of crap” ..My. what an in-depth policy discussion by the junior high crowd. Not only insulting, and off topic, but totally indecipherable. They must have closed down your local Occupy …

      Report Post »  
  • roz_rusty
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:32am

    We need to keep our eyes and ears on this one…real change or another bait and switch? In the meantime…Merry Christmas, all !

    Report Post »  
  • BehindBlueEyes
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:28am

    Putin is one nasty communist and will soon come down on these protesters like a ton of bricks.

    Report Post » BehindBlueEyes  
    • symphonic
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:20pm

      He absolutely would start a civil war rather than step down

      Report Post » symphonic  
  • JohnQTaxpayer
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:25am

    in 2012

    Anti-Obama Protest Draws Tens of Thousands

    just change the names it will be here in 11 months

    Report Post » JohnQTaxpayer  
  • Darla_K
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:24am

    It sounds like their media gets is better than our media. Kudos to the media in Russia. Sorry they have to put up with the likes of Putin. Can you imagine our POS leader doing this? I can, but hopefully the people will rise and take back our Country.

    Report Post » Darla_K  
  • mountainmover101
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:20am

    I think we are about to see how “free” and “democratic” Russia truly is.

    Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:27am

      Get ready everyone, because we will be seeing the Communist tanks rolling into Moscow soon. Kinda like Obama fantasizes about seeing happen here too soon.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:32am

      @TX…
      Agreed!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:27pm

      Totally agree !

      Report Post »  
  • shorthanded12
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:19am

    “The Russian Spring” enuff said.

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:19am

    It looks like the people don’t want the old school communist in power any longer,Russian winter?

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:27pm

      Funny thing but I think he now represents a more capitalist economic form whereas, the old Communist Party is still there ! And waiting in the wings like the Islamists in the Middle East countries…things are going to get very interesting !

      Report Post »  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:17am

    The stage is being set.

    Report Post »  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:16am

    Putin: Protests? What protests? There’s nothing to see here. Wanna see me with my shirt off?

    Report Post » Al J Zira  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:16am

    Putin’s mother raised him to respect Israel – chairs are being moved !

    Report Post »  
1 2 3

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love