MOSCOW, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Russian opposition vowed to stage
another mass rally Saturday despite increasing pressure from authorities, who arrested nearly 1,400 people at a protest last week and have launched a criminal probe into the movement.
The march along Moscow’s leafy boulevards will be the latest in a series
of demonstrations after officials refused to let popular opposition
candidates run in next month’s city parliament elections.
The local issue has boiled over into one of the worst political conflicts
of recent years, with rallies of up to 22,000 people and police violence
against demonstrators.
Over 6,000 people said on Facebook they would take part in the march along Moscow’s so-called Boulevard Ring on Saturday to “bring back the right to elections”.
Officials say candidates were disqualified because they forged the
necessary signatures.
Many Muscovites said their signatures in support of the opposition were
declared invalid with no reason.
Some turned up at previous protests brandishing banners with slogans such
as “I have a right to choose”.
In the polls in September, the opposition hopes to end the monopoly of
Kremlin loyalists in Moscow’s parliament.
The body decides over the city’s multi-billion-dollar budget but lacks
political independence from mayor Sergei Sobyanin, an ally of Putin.
Putin has yet to comment on the political crisis in Moscow.
Authorities have launched investigations into last weekend’s “mass riots”
and “violence against police”, echoing similar probes into protests against
Vladimir Putin in 2012 which saw several people jailed.
Four people were formally arrested pending trial Friday, though the
opposition stressed that the protest was peaceful.
Moscow police on Friday issued a warning for people not to attend the
rally.
“We repeat that the event is illegal,” it said on its website. “We suggest
that residents and visitors refrain from participating.”
Police “will take all necessary measures,” the Moscow prosecutors’ office
said. — NNN-AGENCIES