Protests across Russia to test Putin
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s opponents hope to bring large numbers of people out onto the streets across Russia on Saturday for rallies that will test their ability to channel outrage over allegations of election fraud into a powerful protest movement.
Demonstrations in dozens of cities, from Kaliningrad in the west to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast nearly 7,400 km miles) away, will also gauge Putin’s tolerance for pressure from the streets.
The parliamentary election last Sunday, in which his ruling United Russia party won only a slim majority in the State Duma lower house, showed growing discontent with his rule and the political system he has dominated for 12 years.
“People will come out tomorrow... because they are sick of the party of swindlers and thieves,” said Yevgeniya Chirikova, a prominent activist and one of the organisers, using a popular label for the ruling party that has spread on the Internet.
