RFE: Thousands March In Moscow Protest Defying Authorities
Thousands of Russians defied authorities and marched in central Moscow, ignoring officials' warnings and pressing demands to let independent candidates run in upcoming city council elections.
Police did not interfere with the August 31 protest, which was markedly smaller than previous ones.
However, camouflaged officers linked arms to keep marchers out of the road when demonstrators arrived at Pushkin Square -- a symbolically important public park closer to the Kremlin. A heavy presence of detention buses and water-cannon trucks were visible on nearby side streets.
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WNU Editor: The authorities were surprised by this demonstration. They did not expect it, and are now saying that only a few hundred showed up. But from what I see, the real number is many times that. My advice to the Kremlin is watch out. From what I am hearing, people are angry, especially those under the age of 30. And they are using the protest movement in Hong Kong as a template to now organize their protests in Russia.
More News On Today's Protests In Moscow
Trying to Maintain Momentum as Election Approaches, Moscow Protests Again -- Moscow Times
Opposition supporters defy ban, march on Moscow -- AFP
Russians demand free elections in Moscow, defying protest ban -- Reuters
Russians demand free elections in Moscow, defying protest ban -- Al Jazeera
Protests in Russia may show more than what we're ready to see -- Marc Behrendt and Sofya Orlosky, The Hill
