Anti-Putin Rallies



Anti-Putin Protesters in Moscow

(Moscow, Russia) The crowd in Moscow was estimated at 25,000 while dozens of smaller rallies were held across Russia's nine time zones.

Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets in Moscow on Saturday shouting “Putin is a thief” and “Russia without Putin,” forcing the Kremlin to confront a level of public discontent that has not been seen here since Vladimir V. Putin first became president 12 years ago.

The crowd overflowed from a central city square, forcing stragglers to climb trees or watch from the opposite riverbank. “We exist!” they chanted. “We exist!”

The demonstration marked what opposition leaders hope will be a watershed moment, ending years of quiet acceptance of the political consolidation Mr. Putin introduced. The leaders understood that for a moment they, not the Kremlin, were dictating the political agenda, and seemed intent on leveraging it, promising to gather an even larger crowd again on Dec. 24.

Notably, authorities have resorted to 'devious tricks' to limit attendance at the protests. Apparently, they haven't worked.