A poetic title, indeed. Riot police yesterday arrested over thirty would-be demonstrators at Moscow’s Triumfalnaya Square. The protesters, who call for Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin’s resignation, had earlier been refused permission by city authorities to hold the demonstration.
Police, including many in riot gear, ringed the square before the activists – who numbered over a hundred – arrived, and then detained some of them as soon as they came out of the metro. Police reports claim that 33 people were held including prominent Kremlin critic Eduard Limonov, but demonstrators say that over twice that number were taken away. A cordon of army trucks and police buses kept reporters at a distance – how convenient.
The government has been efficient at keeping vocal opponents out of elections, and police have done their utmost to assist in subduing critics – i.e. they beat and arrest demonstrators, and occasionally the odd bystander. Ho-hum, that’s Russian democracy for you. . . .
