The following is an exclusive translation from RBK Daily on the preparations being made by the Russian security forces to handle an uprising or unrest over the economic crisis.
In expectation of uprisingsThe powers have rethought reducing interior troops
Yesterday, the MVD [Ministry of Internal Affairs] decided not to reduce the interior troops (VV), called upon, in part, to disperse demonstrators. The command of the troops justifies this by «tasks that have been set», without specifying them. In the opinion of experts, the siloviki seriously fear unrest among the unemployed, automobilists, discharged military, those dissatisfied with the growth of housing-and-public-utilities tariffs and other victims of the crisis and of the decisions of government officials.
«Reduction of the internal troops of the MVD of Russia will be suspended», -- reported, citing a decision of the leadership of the country, commander in chief of the VV general of the army Nikolai Rogozhkin. He in no way connects the decision to maintain the numbers of the VV with the financial crisis, citing the «necessity of fulfilling all tasks that have been set», but which ones specifically, Mr. Rogozhkin does not specify.
«Our troops are designated for the protection of state and industrial facilities, convoying of special cargoes, defense of service lines, suppressing internal unrests and resolving inter-nationality conflicts on the territory of the country, -- clarified an RBK daily source in the VV. -- Probably, the leadership of the country is assessing the domestic political situation as not very stable, which is why it rethought reducing us».The consequences of the crisis and unpopular decisions of the powers have already brought people out on the streets. In Vladivostok a march of protest of several thousand automobilists against the increase in customs duties for used foreign makes went outside the thematic bounds: people started talking about the costliness of fuel, food products and housing-and-public-utilities services, about unemployment, the crisis and property stratification. A protest rally against the growth of housing-and-public-utilities tariffs on 15 December took place in Izhevsk, while on 21 December in the Far east and in Khabarovsk Kray are expected new protests of automobilists. The slogans of the protestors have remained unnoticed by the central telechannels, but have attracted the attention of the siloviki: in the regions are being created anticrisis special groups of the MVD, the heads of the territorial administrations of the FSB are likewise expecting protest actions. MVD analysts are attributing to the risk group reduced military and rotation workers come back from Moscow. Also pouring oil on the fire are growing wage arrears. Thus, according to the data of Rosstat, overdue indebtedness on wages in November increased in Russia by 93% and comprised 7.765 bln rub.
«As much as I know, the power elites are seriously concerned by people's unrest associated with the financial crisis, -- clarified to RBK daily the political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky. -- In the situation that has evolved the Kremlin has two ways out: pinpoint financial injections and cracking down on demonstrators with the help of internal troops». In the opinion of Mr. Belkovsky, the peak of people's dissatisfaction is going to come in the first quarter of the year 2009: «The ranks of the demonstrators will be augmented as well by people deprived of mortgaged apartments, because for this period is planned their mass repossession».
IVAN PETROV
17.12.2008
