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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Russian marchers defy Moscow ban | Russian marchers defy Moscow ban |
| (1 day later) | |
| Ultra-nationalists and far-right demonstrators have rallied in the Russian capital, Moscow, defying a ban on their march by the city's mayor. | Ultra-nationalists and far-right demonstrators have rallied in the Russian capital, Moscow, defying a ban on their march by the city's mayor. |
| Fewer than 2,000 protesters turned up - lower than expected - and dozens were arrested, local media reported. | Fewer than 2,000 protesters turned up - lower than expected - and dozens were arrested, local media reported. |
| Some carried religious icons, others gave Nazi-style salutes as they delivered a message of opposition to immigrants and immigrant workers. | Some carried religious icons, others gave Nazi-style salutes as they delivered a message of opposition to immigrants and immigrant workers. |
| There was a huge police presence for the march on National Unity Day. | There was a huge police presence for the march on National Unity Day. |
| 'Ideology of lies' | 'Ideology of lies' |
| Protesters gathered in a central Moscow square, met by several hundred police officers, some in riot gear. | Protesters gathered in a central Moscow square, met by several hundred police officers, some in riot gear. |
| One banner read: "Don't confuse German fascists with Russian patriots." | One banner read: "Don't confuse German fascists with Russian patriots." |
| The protesters called for special privileges for ethnic Russians and more restrictions on immigrant workers. | The protesters called for special privileges for ethnic Russians and more restrictions on immigrant workers. |
| There was a huge police presence at the Moscow protest | There was a huge police presence at the Moscow protest |
| One protest organiser, Alexander Belov, said there were demonstrations in more than 20 cities - including St Petersburg, Krasnodar in southern Russia and Novosibirsk in Siberia. | One protest organiser, Alexander Belov, said there were demonstrations in more than 20 cities - including St Petersburg, Krasnodar in southern Russia and Novosibirsk in Siberia. |
| Police in St Petersburg reportedly broke up a fight between right and left-wing protesters, detaining dozens. | Police in St Petersburg reportedly broke up a fight between right and left-wing protesters, detaining dozens. |
| A counter-protest in Moscow by left-wing demonstrators drew about 500 people carrying banners with slogans such as "Russian Anti-Fascist Front" and "I am Russian and therefore not a fascist." | A counter-protest in Moscow by left-wing demonstrators drew about 500 people carrying banners with slogans such as "Russian Anti-Fascist Front" and "I am Russian and therefore not a fascist." |
| One left-wing protester, Svetlana Gannushkina, said: "We have to protest this ideology of lies and hate," | One left-wing protester, Svetlana Gannushkina, said: "We have to protest this ideology of lies and hate," |
| About 30 people were also arrested at a demonstration in Kiev, in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, when fighting broke out between pro-Russian and nationalist Ukraine demonstrators. | About 30 people were also arrested at a demonstration in Kiev, in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, when fighting broke out between pro-Russian and nationalist Ukraine demonstrators. |
| The BBC's Steven Eke in Moscow says organised protests by far-right groups in Russia have become increasingly common in recent years. | The BBC's Steven Eke in Moscow says organised protests by far-right groups in Russia have become increasingly common in recent years. |
| The anti-immigration message is increasingly catching on in Russia, he says, and Russian society at large seems to be becoming increasingly intolerant of minorities. | The anti-immigration message is increasingly catching on in Russia, he says, and Russian society at large seems to be becoming increasingly intolerant of minorities. |
| Monitoring groups say 39 people have been killed and hundreds attacked so far this year in apparent hate crimes. | Monitoring groups say 39 people have been killed and hundreds attacked so far this year in apparent hate crimes. |
| Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov had banned the rally in the capital this year in a bid to prevent any repeat of last year's demonstration when hundreds of ultra-nationalists shouted far-right slogans. | Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov had banned the rally in the capital this year in a bid to prevent any repeat of last year's demonstration when hundreds of ultra-nationalists shouted far-right slogans. |
| That march dominated the new 4 November Public Unity holiday which replaced the 7 November public holiday marking the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. | That march dominated the new 4 November Public Unity holiday which replaced the 7 November public holiday marking the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. |