Thousands of Russian Protestors Gather in Kaliningrad; Protestors Arrested in Moscow
February 2, 2010
By: Randi Zung

On January 30, in the city of Kaliningrad, thousands of protestors took to the streets following the government’s announcement that it would raise taxes and cut back on social welfare programs, the New York Times reports.  According to police authorities, the protest was attended by no more than 6,000 individuals, but organizers state that there were over 10,000 participants.  The protest, reported to be organized by a loose coalition comprised of opposition groups, was “uncharacteristically large.” 

The brunt of the protestor raged was said to be directed at the region’s governor, Grigory V. Boos, a former member of Russian Parliament.  Boos was appointed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in 2005, after Putin got rid of gubernatorial elections.  The city saw a similar smaller-scale protest in December 2009.  According to Boos’ spokeswoman, Svetlana D. Obolentseva, Boos is willing to meet with opposition party leaders in order to devise a plan to address the concerns of the protestors.  The protest was allowed to end naturally, without intervention from the authorities.  Kaliningrad, which is located 200 miles west of mainland Russia and boarders the Baltic Sea, is largely viewed as one of Russia’s most “Europeanized” areas. 

On January 31, another antigovernment rally broke out in the capital city of Moscow, but was quelled by riot police.  This rally was organized to call attention to the fact that the government was violating rights that were stipulated in the Russian Constitution, including the right to peaceful assembly.   Russian news outlet, RIA Novosti reports that approximately 100 protestors were arrested.  Moscow police spokesman Viktor Biryukov said that 300 individuals took part in the rally, including human rights activists, former members of the Russian government, and a prominent opposition leader.  After participants in the unsanctioned rally failed to disperse, the police began arresting individuals. 

Sources:

RIA Novosti - Moscow police break up unsanctioned rally, detains about 100

www.ccd21.org