1,000 Russian protesters rallying again (Sunday)

[maddezmom]

Source: Associated Press

1,000 Russian protesters rallying again By STEVE GUTTERMAN, Associated Press Writer
18 minutes ago



ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - About 1,000 anti-Kremlin protesters rallied in Russia's second-largest city Sunday, a day after a similar demonstration in Moscow brought clashes with police and at least 170 detentions.

Both protests were part of a series of "Dissenters' Marches" called by the Other Russia umbrella group that brings together an array of opposition factions including one led by former world chess champion Garry Kasparov. The protests focus on complaints that Russia under President Vladimir Putin is slowly strangling democracy.

Kasparov was among those arrested in Moscow and was released late Saturday night after being fined $38 for disrupting public order. He did not go to St. Petersburg for the Sunday rally.

Cordons of police lined the square on the edge of central St. Petersburg where the rally was held, but widescale detentions like those in Moscow were not observed. One woman was seen being hustled into a police vehicle and witnesses said she had been grabbed while distributing leaflets.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070415/ap_on_re_eu/russia_protests

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Dozens detained in Russia's second city: protesters By Denis Pinchuk
9 minutes ago



ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Russian police detained dozens of people on Sunday heading to an anti-Kremlin rally in St. Petersburg, a demonstration leader said, the day after authorities snuffed out a similar protest in Moscow.

Opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin had planned two rallies over the weekend under their umbrella organization Other Russia but authorities banned the main rally on Saturday in Moscow and detained several hundred protesters including former chess champion Garry Kasparov.

Police prevented protesters from heading towards Sunday's rally in St. Petersburg, Other Russia leaders said.

"Police detained me as soon as I left my house this morning," rally organizer Olga Kurnosova, leader of Kasparov's political party in St. Petersburg, told Reuters by telephone from police custody.

more;http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070415/wl_nm/russia_protest_dc

[fujiyama]

1. That's impressive

Putin is a thug. I wish these people luck.

[rodeodance]

2. Sustained, larger each day in many cites. IT has to GROW.

[maddezmom]

3. Russian police beat opposition protestors

SAINT PETERSBURG (AFP) - Riot police clubbed and detained protestors in Saint Petersburg as they left a peaceful demonstration against President Vladimir Putin, the day after mass arrests at a march in Moscow.

Up to 2,000 demonstrators from the anti-Kremlin coalition The Other Russia braved a huge police presence in the centre of Russia's second city to call for free presidential elections when Putin steps down next year.

"Revolution!" and "freedom!" they chanted.

At least 1,500 members of the security forces, including hundreds of black-helmeted OMON paramilitary police, deployed to prevent protestors 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.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070415/wl_afp/russiapoliticsdemo_070415115901