A small anti-Putin rally was broken up rather abruptly and quickly today in Moscow, with the arrests of some 30 people, including Natsbols leader Eduard Limonov. One would think that the government would find a that a more confident show of strength would not involve such overreactions to peaceful protests.
Image credit: OMON, riot police officers detaining banned National-Bolshevik Party
leader Eduard Limonov, left, and another participant, no name given,
during an unsanctioned protest against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
at Triumfalnaya (Triumph) Square in downtown Moscow, Russia, Sunday,
May 31, 2009. Russian Police detained prominent Kremlin critic Limonov
and several other people who tried to hold the protest on Sunday. City
authorities had refused to grant opposition groups permission for the
demonstration, but Limonov's group and others said they would go ahead
with it anyway. (AP Photo)
Image credit: OMON, riot police officers detaining banned National-Bolshevik Party
leader Eduard Limonov, left, and another participant, no name given,
during an unsanctioned protest against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
at Triumfalnaya (Triumph) Square in downtown Moscow, Russia, Sunday,
May 31, 2009. Russian Police detained prominent Kremlin critic Limonov
and several other people who tried to hold the protest on Sunday. City
authorities had refused to grant opposition groups permission for the
demonstration, but Limonov's group and others said they would go ahead
with it anyway. (AP Photo)
Now, what is the possible justification for that? To all those who keep saying Russia is just like any other country now, what is the justification for doing that? In what way could Mr Limonov's insignificant protest be dangerous? Don't tell me it's just because "no permission was given" -- permissions are routinely denied to this kind of action, the only way it can happen is without permission.
Look at all those "tea-bagging" parties that Fox News and the Republicans organized in America. They were much, much more important and threatening than Mr Limonov's little event. Yet they were not repressed. And can you imagine the reaction if they had been repressed?
What kind of country needs to repress even this kind of stupidly small dissenters' march just to feel safe?
Ashepe, yawn. Unauthorized protesters are arrested everywhere in the world every day. To maintain civil society, law and order. Otherwise, there would be anarchy.
May 26, 2009: San Francisco police arrest 175 anti-Prop 8 protesters http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12453610
May 11, 2009: Tamils arrested after sit-down protest in London http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iIccLXjnSavO4h_KQKWCBdswfVrA
September 16, 2007: Several thousand anti-war demonstrators marched through downtown Washington on Saturday, clashing with police at the foot of the Capitol steps where more than 190 protesters were arrested. http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=84066&cid=5
They didnt had any permits to carry out their protest. Plain and Simple.
They didnt had any permits to carry out their protest. Plain and Simple.
Too bad getting a permit isn't so "plain and simple" in Putin's Russia, permits are more often that not denied. And, IF they didn't have a permit that makes it right to arrest people? Attendees were beaten at this incident.
The right to peaceful assembly and protest is a basic human right. The lack of a permit from the hands of a totalitarian regime is a ludicrous excuse to throw out.
arrests are also practiced in the U.S. and many other nations when certain people violates the law. they weren’t given any permission to hold demonstrations, therefore going against this is a blatant violation of the law.
Of course there are still some people who will criticize the policemen's legal actions simply because they hate Russia.
Junichiro, your "hate Russia" rhetoric is simplistic and a ploy to stop the dialogue about all there is to rightfully dislike about Putin and all that he has taken away from Russia as a civil society.
People are arrested in protests in America if their behavior causes harm to others or results in vandalism and not because they publically assembled. Putin's regime denies or severely limits the numbers at and the locations for protests. But, you know that, of course.
Anyone defending Putin's Russia is morally challenged.
Junichiro, look at my comparison. Look at those "tea-bagging" parties in America, all protesting against Obama's government. Could the government declare them illegal and proceed to arrest all participants? And what would the reaction be if they were?
The point is: protests aren't getting permits in Russia. The government is not willing to put up with criticism. I don't know why you try to defend this as if it were "good and pure", but the sad truth is it is not.
It's not pure and simple. It's dirty and thorny.
It's bad not to want to listen to criticism. And notice that I totally disagree with Ms Limonov's ideas. Still, he has the right to express them. Or he should have, at least.