50,000 demonstrate in Moscow in third weekend of protests for fair elections

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: LA Times

Aug. 10--MOSCOW -- Some 50, 000 people rallied in central Moscow on Saturday to demand fair elections, the largest demonstration in a series of protests this summer that has rattled the Kremlin and posed the biggest political challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in seven years.

Unlike previous rallies, which were met with harsh police crackdown that led to thousands of detentions and violent beatings with truncheons, Saturday 's demonstration was approved by the government and saw only scant confrontations between riot police and protesters. Nonetheless, more than 225 demonstrators were detained, almost 150 of them in Moscow and more than 80 at a second protest in St. Petersburg.

The tens of thousands of protesters ignored drizzling rain and unseasonably cold weather to gather in Moscow 's Sakharov Square just off the capital city 's central Garden Ring road, chanting such slogans as "Russia will be free !" and "Release the political prisoners !"

Moscow 's protest movement for fair elections began in early July, after the city 's elections commission rejected several opposition candidates ' applications to run in a Sept. 8 vote for the 45- seat Moscow City Duma, the capital 's city council. The current council is dominated by the pro- Kremlin United Russia party, which the opposition accuses of engaging in corrupt schemes that pilfer city budget funds.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/50000-demonstrate-in-moscow-in-third-weekend-of-protests-for-fair-elections/ar-AAFCOf0?li=BBnbfcL

[theophilus]

1. I think this might be a good idea. Could it catch on here in the U.S.? n/t

[Corgigal]

2. Our CIA says hi Putin.

Keep playing your internet games, and no Trump doesn't know a damn thing.

[Princetonian]

3. How courageous.

[Scarsdale]

4. I can visualise that

happening here. The gop models itself after Putin and his cabal. They LOVE anyone with plenty of cash, who freely gives it to them. Moscow Mitch has to go, while we still have some decent laws on the books. tRump is a disaster, always has been always will be. The gop knows this better than anyone, yet he comes in handy signing their lousy bills into laws.

[Mc Mike]

5. Dump Putin. Dump tRump.

[mahina]

6. Bless and protect them. I hope Navalny is ok.

[a la izquierda]

7. I don't believe in god, but if there is a higher power...

let that power keep these folks safe.

[bdamomma]

8. Russians

can't take crap either. People power is the best power.

[DBoon]

9. "Saturday 's demonstration was approved by the government"

oh really!

Gotta keep them under control

[Blue_Tires]

10. Greenwald and Snowden were unavailable for comment

how odd...