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Moscow Police Arrest More Than 600 at Election Protest Moscow Police Arrest More Than 600 at Election Protest
(32 minutes later)
MOSCOW — The police in Moscow arrested more than 600 people who had gathered outside City Hall on Saturday to protest what they call unfair upcoming elections and demand that opposition candidates be allowed to run for city government.MOSCOW — The police in Moscow arrested more than 600 people who had gathered outside City Hall on Saturday to protest what they call unfair upcoming elections and demand that opposition candidates be allowed to run for city government.
The protest in the center of Moscow unraveled into scuffles with riot police officers, in the latest in a series of street demonstrations as economic hardship has dented President Vladimir V. Putin’s approval ratings.The protest in the center of Moscow unraveled into scuffles with riot police officers, in the latest in a series of street demonstrations as economic hardship has dented President Vladimir V. Putin’s approval ratings.
In anticipation of the unauthorized demonstration called by Aleksei A. Navalny, a foe of Mr. Putin’s and a major opposition leader, the authorities on Wednesday arrested Mr. Navalny and sentenced him to 30 days in jail. In anticipation of the unauthorized demonstration called by Aleksei A. Navalny, a foe of Mr. Putin’s and a major opposition leader, onWednesday the authorities arrested Mr. Navalny and sentenced him to 30 days in jail.
Other prominent opposition politicians — including Ilya Yashin, Dmitry G. Gudkov and Ivan Zhdanov — were also rounded before the event began, depriving those who turned up of any leadership.Other prominent opposition politicians — including Ilya Yashin, Dmitry G. Gudkov and Ivan Zhdanov — were also rounded before the event began, depriving those who turned up of any leadership.
A post on the Facebook page of Mr. Yashin, a street activist and one of the politicians who was barred from running, said 10 masked police officers had removed him from his apartment in Moscow overnight before the Saturday demonstration.A post on the Facebook page of Mr. Yashin, a street activist and one of the politicians who was barred from running, said 10 masked police officers had removed him from his apartment in Moscow overnight before the Saturday demonstration.
“We will have nobody to choose from at the Election Day,” said Nadezhda Pilinskaya, 59, a retired entrepreneur who was one of the few people who were able to get to the City Hall building through police cordons.“We will have nobody to choose from at the Election Day,” said Nadezhda Pilinskaya, 59, a retired entrepreneur who was one of the few people who were able to get to the City Hall building through police cordons.
“It is horrible. My feeling is that we live under an occupation,” she added, referring to the heavy police presence in the city center. “They fear that the end is coming, the end of this regime.”“It is horrible. My feeling is that we live under an occupation,” she added, referring to the heavy police presence in the city center. “They fear that the end is coming, the end of this regime.”
While the protests in provincial cities and the capital have pierced the image of unified support for Mr. Putin, the scale of support for such rallies is unclear. While protests in provincial cities and the capital have pierced the image of unified support for Mr. Putin, the scale of support for such rallies is unclear.
The authorities often begin arrests before a crowd can gather, as happened on Saturday as lines of riot police officers in plastic body armor and helmets — an outfit protesters call “the cosmonaut” — blocked streets and chased demonstrators down allies far from the event’s site, outside City Hall. The authorities often begin arrests before a crowd can gather, as happened on Saturday as lines of riot police officers in plastic body armor and helmets — an outfit protesters call “the cosmonaut” — blocked streets and chased demonstrators down alleys far from the event’s site, outside City Hall.
Some protesters sat on the sidewalks and awaited arrest, chanting, “We love Russia! They love money!” a reference to the supposed corruption in Mr. Putin’s government. Some sat and read copies of the Constitution, theatrically illustrating its violation by their detentions.Some protesters sat on the sidewalks and awaited arrest, chanting, “We love Russia! They love money!” a reference to the supposed corruption in Mr. Putin’s government. Some sat and read copies of the Constitution, theatrically illustrating its violation by their detentions.
The spark for Saturday’s protest was a decision by election authorities to bar several opposition candidates running for Moscow’s City Council, asserting that they had falsified signatures on petitions to run — a charge the candidates denied.The spark for Saturday’s protest was a decision by election authorities to bar several opposition candidates running for Moscow’s City Council, asserting that they had falsified signatures on petitions to run — a charge the candidates denied.
Protesters say that without them, the election is rigged.Protesters say that without them, the election is rigged.
Some protesters chanted, “Where is my signature?” Others yelled, “Where is my candidate?”Some protesters chanted, “Where is my signature?” Others yelled, “Where is my candidate?”
The Moscow City Council has 45 seats and is responsible for a very large municipal budget. It is controlled by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party. All of its seats, which have a five-year-term, are up for election on Sept. 8.The Moscow City Council has 45 seats and is responsible for a very large municipal budget. It is controlled by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party. All of its seats, which have a five-year-term, are up for election on Sept. 8.
Election officials have so far registered nearly 200 candidates, most of whom are largely supportive of Mr. Putin.Election officials have so far registered nearly 200 candidates, most of whom are largely supportive of Mr. Putin.
Protests had been breaking out even before the election dispute as Russia’s economy swoons under Western sanctions. Street actions began in provincial cities over bread-and-butter issues such as the placement of garbage dumps and the dismal wages for medical workers, which highlight growing frustration over gloomy standards of living.Protests had been breaking out even before the election dispute as Russia’s economy swoons under Western sanctions. Street actions began in provincial cities over bread-and-butter issues such as the placement of garbage dumps and the dismal wages for medical workers, which highlight growing frustration over gloomy standards of living.
Saturday’s protest appeared intended also to raise the pressure on Russia’s tightly-controlled political system.Saturday’s protest appeared intended also to raise the pressure on Russia’s tightly-controlled political system.
The number of arrests, 638 by Saturday evening, was reported by OVD-Info, an independent monitor that tracks data from police precincts.The number of arrests, 638 by Saturday evening, was reported by OVD-Info, an independent monitor that tracks data from police precincts.
The police could be seen spraying some demonstrators with a chemical irritant. One woman bled from a blow to the head with a nightstick.The police could be seen spraying some demonstrators with a chemical irritant. One woman bled from a blow to the head with a nightstick.
Though the opposition has managed near weekly protests this month, it’s unclear that any longer-term momentum is building. The crowd sizes have been small for a city of 12.6 million residents, and the police response robust.Though the opposition has managed near weekly protests this month, it’s unclear that any longer-term momentum is building. The crowd sizes have been small for a city of 12.6 million residents, and the police response robust.
There was a heavy police presence at the intended site of the protest, the mayor’s office, which many demonstrators never reached as arrests ensued so quickly. Police trucks and buses parked in the building’s courtyard, positioned to take detainees away.There was a heavy police presence at the intended site of the protest, the mayor’s office, which many demonstrators never reached as arrests ensued so quickly. Police trucks and buses parked in the building’s courtyard, positioned to take detainees away.