MOSCOW: More than 1,000 people gathered in central Moscow on Saturday to protest against the results of last week’s parliamentary election, which was overshadowed by massive accusations of fraud.
The rally was called by the Communist Party, which had come in second behind the pro-Kremlin United Russia in the race for the State Duma.
Among the parliamentarians’ demands were a recount of votes cast online, which the opposition claims were systematically falsified.
The protest at Puskhin Square attracted a heavy police presence, with barriers erected and prisoner transport vehicles standing ready.
Officers played music over loudspeakers, presumably to drown out the speeches made by Communists at the protest. Russian authorities had earlier issued a warning about taking part in unauthorized protests.
United Russia won the vote last weekend with 49.8 per cent. The Communists came in second with 18.9 per cent; like all other parties represented in the Duma, they are considered close to the Kremlin.
Opposition and independent election observers complained of numerous violations and systematic fraud.
Hundreds of Moscow residents had responded to a similar call for protests by the Communists last Monday. In the days that followed, several participants were arrested. According to the OVD-Info protest monitoring group, there were more than 50 cases of people being put under pressure by authorities over their connection to the protest. — dpa
