Russian election: Moscow braced for fresh protests

[Bosonic]

Source: BBC

Moscow is braced for what the opposition claims will be the biggest demonstration in Russia for 20 years.

Tens of thousands are expected to gather in a square south of the Kremlin, in the latest show of anger over disputed parliamentary polls.

Smaller rallies are due to take place in cities across the country.

The protesters allege Sunday's elections - which gave Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party a small lead - were fraudulent.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16122524

[teddy51]

1. President Gorbechev is asking for new elections! I guess we will see what

comes from that.

[Starry Messenger]

2. k&r

[pampango]

3. Aljazeera: Nationwide protests under way in Russia. Moscow rally against "poll fraud"

by ruling party set to attract 30,000 people, with protests in several other cities.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2011/12/2011121053755418485.html

Protests in Russia are taking place against Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule amid signs of swelling anger over a poll won by his ruling United Russia party with the alleged help of widescale fraud.

Moscow authorities gave permission for 30,000 people to gather on a square across the river from the Kremlin on Saturday, after detaining some 1,600 activists over the past few days who joined unsanctioned rallies against the December 4 vote. ... A 30,000-strong demonstration would be the largest to hit the Russian capital in 20 years, in what some see as the first warning bell for the former foreign agent and his secretive inner circle of security chiefs.

The opposition is also organising rallies in at least 14 other major cities in a rare outpouring of mistrust in a system put in place by Putin when he first became president in 2000.

Al Jazeera’s Neave Barker, reporting from Moscow, said: "Troops from the interior ministry and water cannons are also on standby in Moscow. "I do think, that if the protestors try and widen the rally, then there could well be a clampdown."

Includes a video report from Aljazeera.

[BadtotheboneBob]

4. I predict a 'Thump-fest'...

Pootie-Poot is not a happy camper.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Russians come out in force to protest against alleged electoral fraud

Up to 50,000 people braved the cold and snow on Saturday to turn out for the largest ever protest against the rule of prime minister Vladimir Putin.

Bolotnaya Square, across the river from the Kremlin in central Moscow, was filled to overflowing with thousands standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the bridges and along the riverfront leading to the site. Tens of thousands of police and interior troops were deployed around the area, but protesters had been allowed by officials to gather in an unprecedented show of discontent.

Shouts of "Russia without Putin!" and "Freedom!" were mixed with demands that the Kremlin annul a disputed parliamentary election that saw Putin's United Russia party gain nearly 50% of the vote despite widespread accusations of fraud.

"I demand new elections," said Maxim, 26, an economist. "If they don't agree, we will continue to come out. The people have woken up – they see there's a point to going out into the streets and expressing what they don't agree with."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/10/russia-protests-election-vladimir-putin

[totodeinhere]

6. This is turning into a world wide movement against the moneyed establishment.

Our OWS protests need to get to be as big as those protests in Russia are. The world's ruling elite is going down. It's only a matter of time.

[daleo]

7. Maybe the Supreme Court will pick the president

Using a "one time only" rule. That's what "advanced democracies" do.

[Blue_Tires]

8. Russia is weary of the kleptocracy as well...