Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Russian Opposition Stages New Moscow Rally After Summer of Protests

RFE/RL

   MOSCOW - Tens of thousands of Russians braved a cold rain to jam a
   central Moscow square as opposition groups sought to regain momentum
   following a summer of demonstrations that targeted both local elections
   and Russia's broader political system.

   The Sunday rally was the first major effort by liberal political groups
   and allied parties since elections earlier in the month. The run-up to
   the September 8 vote-- particularly, election officials' preventing
   opposition candidates from running-- were the catalyst for the biggest
   wave of sustained anti-government rallies in years.

   Instead of elections, the September 29 event was focused on "political
   repression," as activists demanded that authorities halt a campaign of
   raids and arrests targeting anti-corruption crusader Aleksei Navalny
   and his network of supporters nationwide.

   Marchers chanted "Freedom for political prisoners!" and, "Let them go!"
   and "Putin Is a Thief!" as speakers that included Navalny and Lyubov
   Sobol, a human rights lawyer and a key organizer of the summer
   demonstrations, implored participants to seize the momentum.

   "Ski-mask raids are not a symbol of horror and terror. They are a
   symbol of cowardice," Navalny told the crowd, some of whom carried
   signs that read "I don't want to live in fear!" and "Enough with the
   contrived crimes!"

   "We have to keep demanding that they respect our rights; they have left
   us with no choice but to take to the streets to protest," Sobol said.

.