Hundreds Detained at Rally in Russia

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Hundreds Detained at Rally in Russia

The Associated Press
Saturday, March 24, 2007; 6:57 AM

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- Authorities broke up a demonstration
against the government in this central Russian city on Saturday,
detaining hundreds of activists, organizers said.

Officials refused to let the protesters assemble in downtown
Nizhny Novgorod, granting them only permission to gather at a
square far from the center that was surrounded by hundreds of
police in riot gear.

Sseveral hundred people participated in the protest until police
dragged them into detention buses and hauled them off. Organizer
Natalya Morar said several dozen journalists, including foreign
reporters, were among those detained.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400280.html

---

Source: Guardian

Supreme court ban on liberal party wipes out opposition to Putin


· Republicans accused of violating electoral law
· Protest rally planned amid fears of a police state

Luke Harding in Moscow
Saturday March 24, 2007
The Guardian

Russia's next parliament is likely to have no genuine opposition
after a court in Moscow yesterday banned a leading liberal party
from standing in elections.

Russia's supreme court announced that it had liquidated the small
Republican party, claiming that it had violated electoral law by
having too few members. The party is one of very few left in Russia
that criticises President Vladimir Putin.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,2041825,00.html

[VegasWolf]

1. Damn, Russia is getting almost as bad as the US in terms of freedom. nt

[Rowdy Church]

2. Sounds like the Terrorist Have Won

Gosh -- is it America or is it Russia?

Do a simple word replace to find out:

-snip-
Officials refused to let the protesters assemble in downtown
Nizhny Novgorod front of the NYC GOP convention, granting them only permission to gather at a
square far from the center that was surrounded by hundreds of
police in riot gear.

Several hundred people participated in the protest until police
dragged them into detention buses and hauled them off.
-snip-

When we can no longer tell the difference between the U.S. and Russia -- I guess maybe the terrorist have already won

[David__77]

3. I don't agree with the characterization of the KPRF.

The "communists" aren't communists, but they are anti-Putin, certainly though as a "loyal opposition," like in most Western countries.