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.


Opposition Urges 'Russia Without Putin' in Rally for Slain Liberal

Agence France-Presse

   MOSCOW - Thousands rallied in central Moscow on Saturday to call on
   President Vladimir Putin not to stay in power indefinitely, in the
   first major protest by the Russian opposition since the Kremlin chief
   announced controversial plans to change the constitution.

   The rally marked five years since the assassination of opposition
   politician Boris Nemtsov, but its organizers also wantedthe event to
   send a message to Putin after he proposed major constitutional changes.

   Organizers, including the country's most prominent opposition
   leader,Alexei Navalny, called for a mass turnout to show Putin that he
   must not consider staying in power by any means when his current
   mandate ends in 2024.

   Moscow authorities gave permissionforthe rally--after a succession of
   demonstrations urging fair elections last summer were roughly
   dispersed--and the street was packed by a flow of protesters, an AFP
   correspondent said.

   "The Putin regime is a threat to humankind," said the slogan on one
   placard next to a portrait of Nemtsov.

   "Putin's policies are based on total lies," said another, quoting the
   liberal politician who was assassinated in central Moscow on February
   27, 2015.

   "Russia without Putin!" the crowds chanted repeatedly as they marched.

   The White Counter monitor,which counts attendance at protests,said
   22,300 people took part in the march. TheInteriorMinistry said 10,500
   took part.

   Constitutional overhaul

   Putin, who has dominated Russia for two decades, in January unleashed a
   political storm, proposing an overhaul of the constitution, the first
   changes to the basic law since 1993.

.