Moscow authorises opposition rally
January 26th, 2012 - 11:26 am ICT by IANSMoscow, Jan 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A planned opposition march followed by a rally where 50,000 people will protest the results of parliamentary elections have been given the go ahead, an official said Thursday.
The City Hall “approved one of the variants” proposed by the organisers, Deputy Mayor Alexander Gorbenko said.
The approval came after a previously unsuccessful attempt by the opposition Jan 20 to claim another venue in Moscow for the demonstration.
The procession will be held Feb 4 in the Garden Ring, a circular avenue in the Russian capital’s centre.
The city’s Bolotnaya Square witnessed largescale protests against alleged fraud in the Dec 4 State Duma elections.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin-led United Russia party won the December ballot but critics claimed the vote had been rigged. The authorities have admitted that “minor violations” took place.
In order to avoid accusations of electoral fraud in the coming presidential polls, Putin has said that 95,000 polling places in Russia will be equipped with webcams.
This will cost up to 15 billion rubles (around $490 million).
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/mr
- No US involvement in Russian protests: Envoy (Lead) - Jan 26, 2012
- Moscow officials ban anti-Putin march - Jan 22, 2012
- Russia's election chief declines to resign - Jan 06, 2012
- Nationalists plan 50,000-strong rally in Moscow - Jan 21, 2012
- 600,000 Russians to watch presidential poll online - Mar 03, 2012
- No plans for early parliamentary polls : Putin - Mar 02, 2012
- Russian anti-rally bill wants $50,000 fine on protesters - May 11, 2012
- Putin wants webcams for presidential polls - Dec 15, 2011
- Russian election chief wants transparent ballot boxes - Dec 23, 2011
- Anti-Putin protests sweep across Russia - Dec 10, 2011
- Rally in Moscow for fair presidential vote - Jan 09, 2012
- Pro-Kremlin groups to stage 26 rallies in Moscow - Mar 04, 2012
- Kremlin supporters announce counter-rally - Dec 10, 2011
- Pro-Kremlin 'response rally' draws 25,000 in Moscow - Dec 12, 2011
- Putin says no review of Russian parliamentary poll results - Dec 27, 2011
Tags: accusations, city hall, demonstration, deputy mayor, electoral fraud, moscow, opposition rally, organisers, parliamentary elections, polling places, presidential polls, procession, protests, ria novosti, rubles, russian capital, state duma elections, unsuccessful attempt, variants, vladimir putin