Russian opposition

This article is about efforts to challenge the constitutional order in Russia. For the largest opposition parties, see Communist Party of the Russian Federation and A Just Russia.
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The Russian opposition is composed of various political parties, movements and groups of citizens, who disagree with government organs of Russia and stand for their change.

Background and white-ribbon opposition

The White Ribbon "For Russia Without Putin"

Most opposition organizations independent from the Kremlin encounter a draconian law on political parties, refusals of registration by the Justice Ministry, censorship in major mass media, primarily federal TV channels. According to Vladimir Ryzhkov, "over the last 4 years (i.e. from 2007 - Ed.) for identical "formal reason" nine political parties were denied registration - from left to right. And not any new party was registered. In modern Russia, this is not possible".[1]

Recently, for the protesters for Fair Elections the term white ribbon opposition has been applied, as they wore white ribbons as their symbol.[2]

Actions and campaigns of the opposition

Current campaigns of the opposition:

In addition, smaller-scale series of actions are conducted. For example, in Moscow in the spring of 2012 saw a series of flash mobs "White Square", when protesters walked through the Red Square with white ribbons,[2] in the late spring and summer, they organized the protest camp "Occupy Abay" and autumn they held weekly "Liberty walks" with the chains symbolizing solidarity with political prisoners.[4]

A Monstration is a parody demonstration[5] where participants gently poke fun at Kremlin policies.[6]

Participation in elections

Some opposition figures, for example, Garry Kasparov, said there are no elections in Putin's Russia,[7][8] and that participation in a procedure called elections only legitimizes the regime.

On the other hand, a small part of liberals (the party of "Democratic Choice") consider elections as the main tool to achieve their political goals.[9] The system opposition also supports participation in elections.

Protests against election fraud

The rally for fair elections December 10, 2011 at the Bolotnaya Square in Moscow. Luzhkov Bridge with banners "Crooks and thieves, return elections", "Deputies, we have not chosen you!"

Starting from 5 December 2011, the day after the elections to the State Duma, there have been repeated massive political actions of Russian citizens who disagree with the outcome of these "elections". The current surge of mass opposition rallies has been called in some publications "a snow revolution".[10][11][12][13] These rallies continued during the campaign for the election of the President of Russia and after March 4, 2012 presidential election, in which Putin officially won the first round. The protesters claimed that the elections were accompanied by violations of the election legislation and widespread fraud. One of the main slogans of the majority of actions was "For Fair Elections!" and a white ribbon has been chosen as symbol of protests. Beginning from spring 2012 the actions were called marches of millions and took the form of a march followed by a rally. The speeches of participants were anti-Putin and anti-government.

The "March of Millions" on 6 May 2012 at the approach to Bolotnaya Square was dispersed by the police. In the Bolotnaya square case 17 people are accused of committing violence against police (12 of them are in jail). A large number of human rights defenders and community leaders have declared the detainees innocent and the police responsible for the clashes.[14][15]

For the rally on December 15, 2012, the anniversary of the mass protests against rigged elections, the organizers failed to agree with the authorities, and participation was low. Several thousand people gathered without placards on Lubyanka Square and laid flowers at the Solovetsky Stone.[16]

March for Peace

March for Peace, Moscow, 21 September 2014

In 2014, members of the Russian opposition have held anti-war protests in opposition to Russian military intervention in Ukraine in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and Crimean crisis. The March of Peace protests took place in Moscow on March 15, a day before the Crimean referendum. The protests have been the largest in Russia since the 2011 protests. Reuters reported that 30,000 people participated in the March 15 anti-war rally.[17]

Opposition figures

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Владимир Рыжков: Отказ в регистрации оппозиционных партий делает выборы в России нелегитимными. 27 июня 2011 г.
  2. 1 2 Активистов «Солидарности» задержали на «Белой площади». Каспаров.ру, 23.04.2012
  3. ↑ Борис Немцов. Ролики "Ложь путинского режима". Блог Бориса Немцова, 10.11.2012
  4. ↑ В Москве задержаны участники «Прогулки свободы». Грани.ру, 29.09.2012
  5. ↑ "Russian Labor Day: Rallies, ridicule and revelry as tens of thousands take part". Russia Today. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Moscow threatens to block BBC Russian service Service". Z News. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Гарри Каспаров. "Выборов, которые приведут к отстранению Путина от власти, в России быть не может. Надо четко зафиксировать наш призыв к демонтажу существующей системы. Она убивает будущее России. Выживание путинского режима – это гибель страны. Вот об этом надо говорить, а не соблазнять людей предвыборными пустышками" — Радио Свобода, 02.06.2011
  8. ↑ Юрий Староверов. Марш регионов вместо иллюзий — Грани.ру, 15.10.2012
  9. ↑ "О нас. Что такое "Демократический выбор"?". Демократический выбор. Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
  10. ↑ Денис Билунов. Координационный совет накануне выборов — ЕЖ, 19.10.2012
  11. ↑ Высокий градус русской зимы. Мировые СМИ о "снежной революции" в России — Газета.ру, 12.12.2011
  12. ↑ Андерс Аслунд. Урок для России. Снежная революция не должна повторить ошибки Оранжевой. — KievPost, 22.02.2012
  13. ↑ Протест против Путина: "снежная революция" в России тает — ИноПресса.ру, 12.03.2012
  14. ↑ Требуем расследования событий 6 мая на Болотной! «За права человека»
  15. ↑ В Москве прошел митинг в поддержку «узников Болотной», Грани.ру, 26.07.2012
  16. ↑ Стояние у Соловецкого камня: Итоги запрещенной оппозиционной акции
  17. ↑ "Ukraine crisis triggers Russia's biggest anti-Putin protest in two years". Reuters. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
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