Largest protest since collapse of Soviet Union rocks Russia

[joshguitar]

The Independent

(clip)

Russia's leadership was forced to defend its legitimacy yesterday after about 100,000 demonstrators rallied in central Moscow to demand democratic reform and fair elections in the largest wave of popular dissent since the fall of the Soviet Union.

The rally on Moscow's Sakharov Avenue on Saturday was the fourth and by far the biggest of the mass demonstrations provoked by the parliamentary vote held on 4 December. The ruling United Russia party, led by the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, held on to a slim majority in parliament in those elections, but the results have been tainted by claims of wholesale fraud.

The demonstrators stood for hours in sub-zero weather on Saturday listening to a line-up of speakers as diverse as the crowd itself, including TV celebrities, writers, musicians, politicians, scientists and a jailed dissident whose video message was broadcast on a giant screen beside the stage.

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read full article here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/largest-protest-since-collapse-of-soviet-union-rocks-russia-6281549.html

The world is waking up

[Magoo48]

1. wow.....

[DeathToTheOil]

2. K'd & R'd

But even if Putin goes, sustained democracy in Russia is unlikely, as the country has no real history of it.

[MattSh]

4. Very true, And...

US leaders would just LOVE to see another weak leader like Yeltsin at the helm. Zbigniew Brzezinski has stated:

In these circumstances, Russia's first priority should be to modernize itself rather than to engage in a futile effort to regain its status as a global power. Given the country's size and diversity, a decentralized political system and free-market economics would be most likely to unleash the creative potential of the Russian people and Russia's vast natural resources. A loosely confederated Russia -- composed of a European Russia, a Siberian Republic, and a Far Eastern Republic -- would also find it easier to cultivate closer economic relations with its neighbors. Each of the confederated entitles would be able to tap its local creative potential, stifled for centuries by Moscow's heavy bureaucratic hand. In turn, a decentralized Russia would be less susceptible to imperial mobilization.

http://www.comw.org/pda/fulltext/9709brzezinski.html

Yep, "decentralize," or "loosely confederate," more likely meaning break-up the country further. Why? Two words. Oil and gas.

[caseymoz]

5. So? The should quit stalling and make some history.

We should quit treating these things social scientists say as though they're backed up by anything scientific. There's no quality that "history" gives you that prevents democracy or a respect for rights.

[sulphurdunn]

8. I agree.

It's like saying we needed the British to help us form a workable government after we threw them out because we had no history of autonomous governance.

[dipsydoodle]

3. This was Saturday 24th December.

Live correspondents on the spot reported there was nothing like that number there - western media reports all stuck with 10's of thousands. That was by 2pm GMT by which time it was dark again there - Moscow is GMT + 4 hours.

Video here : last updated 7:59pm UK, Saturday December 24, 2011 http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16136696

[joshguitar]

9. Organizers claim 128,000, Russia gov claims 25,000

I imagine the truth is somewhere in the middle. Here is a BBC story on the protests

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16324644

[dipsydoodle]

7. Unless you meant these

might be a good idea to edit that word out.

[PatrynXX]

10. kinda hard to edit a jury'd post

let alone he can't respond here now. he's been BillO'd


the Offense police came by and chopped his nuts off. they're rolling down the street.

[PatrynXX]

11. and really hard to do it when banned

as I see the poster was. I remember once posting the _______ word , racial epitaph to make a point that saying the ** word and _______ is the same thing. Really interesting discussions one can have on race when I worked with people who weren't white. Both are offensive. Racial epitaph is usually accepted. although I doubt the member meant to use f***** considering I've been called one when I was a younger geek. Geeks tended to be bullied. I'd say he was speaking from the voice of passion. Too bad he can't speak for himself. But this is the ********* underground now. Nothing democratic about it. Democracy will protect KKK or Neo Nazi's even when common sense says ewe. I protect the KKK, in return they should support the protection of the OWS movement. Free speech! Unless Democracy's definition has changed.


Yes I used to have a Gay Bus. When I was younger. Lots of people had a Gay Christmas. The definition changed. Can't be helped. Gay meant happy. Now if I understand it right bum in the UK or somewhere is not the backside in some circles. So if someone says it's okay to slap her bum... It'll go wrong.

[dipsydoodle]

12. A word was used

outside of the context of our old UK food stuff which goes back 150 years or so. I picked up on it prior to the deletion.

[PatrynXX]

14. it's not deleted

it's hidden. just hit show and it's there. it's not deleted

[PatrynXX]

13. know someone in moscow

wonder how this went. (adult model) although close to retiring because she might be marrying someone she wanted to go to the first big protest but her bf was worried and wouldn't let her but many of her friends went.

all thanks to Manning and wikileaks. Great job.