DESPITE BIG FREEZE PRO AND ANTIPUTIN RALLIES ROCK MOSCOW
The movement against Vladimir Putin was on Sunday preparing new rallies to loosen the Russian strongman's 12-year grip on power after keeping up their challenge with a third mass demonstration in Moscow.
Tens of thousands marched through Moscow on Saturday despite bitterly cold weather to protest against Putin's domination, with organisers disputing police claims that a pro-putin rally elsewhere in the capital was even larger.
Thousands braved freezing temperatures in Moscow to march for free and democratic presidential elections. They accused the government of planning a fraud.
Security in the capital was stepped up, with some 9,000 officers on the streets. The demonstration attracted at least 34,000 people, according to some estimates while other sources put the figure at up to 50,000.
Several presidential candidates who were scheduled to speak at the rally later changed their minds. Businessman Mikhail Prokhorov joined the march, becoming the only presidential candidate at the protest.
Sergey Mironov of Fair Russia decided not to attend after Prokhorov and Communist leader Gennady Zuyga- nov announced they would not be speaking at the event.
Meanwhile according to police reports a pro-governemnt demonstration at Poklonnaya Hill attracted more than 100,000 people.
Supporters of the Patriots of Russia movement (pro-pu- tin) and several other groups were protesting what they call “the so-called Orange mood in the country” and to “show people we have a lot to lose.” “Orange” is a reference to Ukraine’s Orange Revolution of late 2004 and early 2005. (Russia Today)