Dozens of people, including writer Eduard Limonov were arrested by police, according to AFP. They tried on Saturday to participate in unauthorized demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg, to request the departure of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. In Moscow, the demonstration organized by Eduard Limonov, member of the opposition and controversial writer, who told Echo Moscow radio station that he was arrested, was taking place in the Triumfalnaia plaza, downtown of the Russian capital under the slogan “New Year without Putin”.
Dozens of police were deployed and prevented the demonstration arresting about 20 protesters as soon as they exited a subway station near the market. One of them shouted “Freedom” when he was arrested by police. Others chanted “Russia without Putin”. An armband that read “Death to the Kremlin occupants ” was also displayed. Since the afternoon, an important device was deployed by the police in the area, including 30 vans for arrested people. Besides Putin’s departure, at the rally was also asked for every last day of the months with 31 days the application of Article 31 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.
At St. Petersburg, the second large city of the country, about ten people were arrested while trying to protest on the Nevsky Avenue, downtown. Many of these protesters chanted “New Year without Putin” or “We need another Russia”. Vladimir Putin’s regime is facing the biggest challenge since coming to power in 2000, about two months before the presidential elections in March when he will run for a third term, after previous two terms as Russian president in the period 2000-2008. On December 24, between 70,000 and 100,000 people demonstrated in Moscow to asking the rescind of the legislative elections held earlier this month and a “Russia without Putin”.
