by people of Russia/Moscow. This shows power of freedom and democracy very clearly. Only this power or desire to achieve it can make these guys march in this bitter cold against autocratic rule of Mr. Putin. I hope he will get the message and preserve whatever he has done for Russia so far and get out and leave it for next generations!!
Thousands rally against Putin
By Lynn Berry
Associated Press
MOSCOW — Their frozen breath rising in the brutally frigid air, tens of thousands of protesters marched through downtown Moscow on Saturday to keep up the pressure on Prime Minister Vladimir Putin one month before a presidential election that could extend his rule for six more years. The protesters have few illusions that they can drive Putin from power now, but for the first time in years Russians are challenging his control and demanding that their voices be heard. Wrapped in furs or dressed for the ski slope, as many as 120,000 people turned out for the third and perhaps largest mass demonstration since Putin’s party won a parliamentary election Dec. 4 with the help of what appeared to be widespread fraud. The election was the last straw for Russians increasingly unhappy with the creeping authoritarianism during his 12-year rule. Two protest rallies in December, which also drew tens of thousands, were the biggest in Russia since the demonstrations 20 years ago that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Thousands of police monitored the two-hour peaceful protest without intervening.
“There are now so many of us that they cannot arrest us all,” said 56-year-old protester Alexander Zelensky.
DMITRY LOVETSKY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Protesters march against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s rule during a massive protest Saturday in St. Petersburg, Russia, in one of several dozen rallies across the country.
Thousands rally against Putin
By Lynn Berry
Associated Press
MOSCOW — Their frozen breath rising in the brutally frigid air, tens of thousands of protesters marched through downtown Moscow on Saturday to keep up the pressure on Prime Minister Vladimir Putin one month before a presidential election that could extend his rule for six more years. The protesters have few illusions that they can drive Putin from power now, but for the first time in years Russians are challenging his control and demanding that their voices be heard. Wrapped in furs or dressed for the ski slope, as many as 120,000 people turned out for the third and perhaps largest mass demonstration since Putin’s party won a parliamentary election Dec. 4 with the help of what appeared to be widespread fraud. The election was the last straw for Russians increasingly unhappy with the creeping authoritarianism during his 12-year rule. Two protest rallies in December, which also drew tens of thousands, were the biggest in Russia since the demonstrations 20 years ago that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Thousands of police monitored the two-hour peaceful protest without intervening.
“There are now so many of us that they cannot arrest us all,” said 56-year-old protester Alexander Zelensky.
DMITRY LOVETSKY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Protesters march against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s rule during a massive protest Saturday in St. Petersburg, Russia, in one of several dozen rallies across the country.
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