ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Club-swinging riot police clashed Sunday with opposition supporters as an anti-Kremlin protest dispersed in Russia's second-largest city, chasing small groups of demonstrators, beating some on the ground and hauling them into police buses.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the violence after the rally, which city authorities had authorized and took place under a heavy police presence with at least one helicopter hovering above.

Although city authorities gave permission for the rally in a square on the edge of central St. Petersburg, they had banned plans for the demonstrators to march afterwards to the city government headquarters.

Police trucks and helmeted officers blocked the planned march route. At the end of the 90-minute-long rally, organizers did not exhort them to conduct the banned march but suggested they go on their own to the city government building over the next few days. When the rally dispersed, most participants went to a nearby subway station, where clashes broke out.

In one, police chased a group that included Sergei Gulyayev, a member of the city legislature who had been arrested at a protest in March. Police grabbed some members of the group and pounded them in the head with nightsticks before putting them on buses; it was not immediately known if Gulyayev was among those taken away.

In another clash, police charged a group holding a banner professing love for the city.

The violence came a day after clashes at a similar opposition protest in Moscow, where police detained at least 170 people, sometimes with harsh force. The protests in both cities were called to focus on complaints that Russia under President
Vladimir Putin is strangling democracy ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections.

"Yesterday, it became clear that the authorities won't be making any concessions. They have started a war on people," Eduard Limonov, head of the National Bolshevik Party, told the rally.

"Putin and his team are sitting on sacks of gold, at the same time the country is breaking apart in all spheres," said demonstrator Sergei Niluopv, a 56-year-old teacher.

Protesters, police clash in Russia - Yahoo! News

Cops do their jobs very well in russia unlike they do in the states. Cops crackdown on war protesters and anti-putin in russia but in D.C Cops dont even have the guts to take on HOLLYWOOD when they protested against Mr Bush and the War. See wanna do something about HOLLYWOOD Behavior? BOYCOTT THE MOVIES!!! Dont pay your $8 by going to see a movie.Thats how you hurt HOLLYWOOD!!!

If Russia is a democracy why not letting them protest to prove them the opposite?

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Last time there was suppose to be demonstration against Putins actions, many people were arrested long before they ever made it to St.Petersburg. Opposition against Putin is beaten down as he imposes his own leashed "opposition".
Like before, normal permits for demonstrations were not granted and thus all who attend the demonstrations can be arrested and marked. Also, like before, police used excess force.
Russia has not been democratic for quite some time now.

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En uneksi. I do not dream.

The permission was given them. The terms of such a permission as you all know imply the certain time and especially place of the demo. I don't interest too much for National Bolsheviks rampages and the fits of that primitive swindel Kasparov, but as far as I know the place conditions were deliberately infringed to provoke the police. It's clear that all the leaders of the demo are greatly satisfied with the information resonance and the fotos of every truncheon make them piss of delight - I watched the channel Ren TV with interviews few minutes ago.

Garry Kasparov's March.





The sign: Stalin, Beria, GULAG.

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Please watch this:


Shocking video of results of Georgian attack on South Osetia
CNN is spreading propaganda!
American witness: "Not only Georgia, but also U.S. are responsible for the violence in South Ossetia"
Mark Almond: It's simplistic to cast Russia as sole villain in South Ossetia clashes

The People have spoken.They are unhappy with russia being a free capitolist country just like america is. Not every nation wants to be like America you know. Just like Arabs dont like freedom and why are we forcing it down their throats? Thats why 9-11 happend cause its Bin Ladens way of telling america to leave us alone and stop supporting isreal.Just because the president thinks the world should live in freedom and democracy doesnt make it so.So we should tell mr putin these are your people listen to them!

NBP is not popular. There are only about 15000 members of this party in the whole Russia. But they are very active and famous for their perfomances. One girl from NBP has beaten prince Charles with the posy.

And Garry Kasparov is just the paid puppet of America. You can check it:
ontoinfo » Blog Archive » It’s Official: Garry Kasparov Has Dedicated His Career To US Security

__________________
Please watch this:


Shocking video of results of Georgian attack on South Osetia
CNN is spreading propaganda!
American witness: "Not only Georgia, but also U.S. are responsible for the violence in South Ossetia"
Mark Almond: It's simplistic to cast Russia as sole villain in South Ossetia clashes

__________________
Please watch this:


Shocking video of results of Georgian attack on South Osetia
CNN is spreading propaganda!
American witness: "Not only Georgia, but also U.S. are responsible for the violence in South Ossetia"
Mark Almond: It's simplistic to cast Russia as sole villain in South Ossetia clashes

This weekend was grim in Estonia.

Russian protestors destroyed Tallinns central as much as they could and robbed and looted wildly before police was finally able to calm things down using force.
These Russians living in Estonia were crossed because Estonians moved the "Bronze warrior" from central to nearby cemetary. The statue is a Soviet soldier, a monument for the "liberation" of Europe. It also is a reminder of 50 years of occupation.

Russia under Putin has had a goal to uphoald and improve living conditions of so-called "outer-Russians", meaning Russians living in other nations. People without connections to nation of Russia itself.
In other words, Russia seems to care little of the fact that nations having Russian minorities are independent.

In the wake of this night of commotion, Russians(Putin youngsters) protested against Estonia wearing Soviet uniforms and calling Estonians `Facists´.
Also, Russian parliament has called to serve "severe consequences" towards Estonia for their use of force against Russian demonstrators. (They pay no heed to the fact that these demonstrators broke everything they could)

There was a casualty. Young Russian. Estonians news stated that this young man was stabbed by other Russian, yet Russian news found that he was brutalized, beaten, by police and left to bleed to death while handcuffed.

Russian news ignore stabbing wounds, but it matters little, brother-Ryssä is not intrested in truth.

What to make of all this?

My view is that Russians conveniently leave out certain historical facts while trying to threat smaller nations near their borders, just like Soviets of old.

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En uneksi. I do not dream.

It is common knowledge that in October, 2006 Russian authorities had to suspend the activities of some foreign non-governmental organizations under the pretext that they were not in the habit of keeping their affairs and documents in order. In reality I think it was done in order to prevent foreigners from obvious interfering in the internal affairs of this independent country and in its political process.
There is no secret that such US NGOs as the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute directly finance by US Congress and US State Department although they must be fully independent organizations! Maybe, that is why under the guise of development of democracy and human rights in Russia representatives of such so-called non-governmental organizations financially support various oppositional parties (including those whose activities have been prohibited by local laws), train special personnel for extremist youth movements in various regions, render assistance for criminal elements in local government administrations through controllable mass media and their agents of influence in various political parties and movements on the territory of Russia.
Under the cover of struggle for freedom and democracy in this country US NGOs constantly initiate negative processes in Russian economy and social sphere. Certainly it causes concern of not only official authorities (because most their actions lead to direct control over their activities) but also local population, because it leads to decline of standard of living in Russia. Thus, US NGOs, worked in Russian Federation, have only themselves to thank for the situation when they have to report on planned activities for every year and worry that officials of this country will be able to reject their plans or penalize the groups if they deviate from these plans.

Fennica, oh, comon, you comment is stereotypical and just in the way i waited.

Russians and other minorities in Estonia were limited in rights, they were deprived of citizenship by Estonia's government. Notice, that Russians are native citizens of Estonia and even Estonia's capital Tallinn was founded by Russians.

How do you call the act when native ethnical minority will be deprived of citizenship? No doubt, it is a nazi fascistic act! Big shame on Estonians!

Russians can't work legally, they can't study on Russian. Russian language which is used by 40% of population is not official. In Finland where only 4% speak Swedish, Swedish is official language.

__________________
Please watch this:


Shocking video of results of Georgian attack on South Osetia
CNN is spreading propaganda!
American witness: "Not only Georgia, but also U.S. are responsible for the violence in South Ossetia"
Mark Almond: It's simplistic to cast Russia as sole villain in South Ossetia clashes

I was expecting some Russian response. Glad to hear from the other side.

Name other minorities in Estonia.

Those Russians in Estonia are remnants of the occupational rule of Estonia, that is a sad fact. If they feel so Russian inside, why not move there?

And Estonia founded by Russians? I have heard from various russians that vast majority of cities in the North has been founded by Russians(even Viipuri), but that Tallinn also... can you back that up?

And If living in Estonia, one should be able to talk Eesti language. Those Russians cannot, and will not.
So what do you think these Russians in Estonia should do?

THere it comes again. If somebody steps on Russians toes, they are automatically facist.
Should those Russians learn language of the nation they live in, and work and pay taxes there, they would gain citizenship. As Russians in their arrogancy will not comply, they are not needed.
And it is not Russian Federations buisness. You are not in any position to claim any rights on people who are not your nations citizens. I say; Back off!

Less than 40. Actually, if the Estonians are correct, number is 25%.
Nothing will give these Russians right to wreack such havoc. They ought to assimilate themselves into Estonians society, or leave.

Crying over Soviet-era statue which portrays Estonians occupiee, is little less than assimilation.

And a question; Whatever happened to all the Statues in Estonia when your occupation began? Where are old Estonians statues?

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En uneksi. I do not dream.

Russians lived on their land included into Estonia in 1918 at least 300 years. Are they natives? Of course! Are they occupiers? No! Why Russians as natives should leave their native land included in modern Estonia?

Estonia in modern borders appeared after Bolshevik revolution, when Russian land with Russian population were voluntary included into Estonia. If Estonians want have nothing with Bolsheviks and Russians, then they should return Russian lands that were included into Estonia by Bolsheviks.

Fennica, actually i don't see a reason to talk with you. You portrait Russians and Russia in only one way - as evil. Your opinion is based on prejudice, you don't accept facts. so the result of the discussion for you will be the same.

Russians don't have to leave their native land. If Estonians want Russians to leave - they should return Russian lands that were included into Estonia by Bolsheviks.

__________________
Please watch this:


Shocking video of results of Georgian attack on South Osetia
CNN is spreading propaganda!
American witness: "Not only Georgia, but also U.S. are responsible for the violence in South Ossetia"
Mark Almond: It's simplistic to cast Russia as sole villain in South Ossetia clashes

Nice sources. A blog and a xenophobic, anti-semistic ranter. If anything, it fits the image that Russia has in the rest of the world; seeing the russian reactions here, I can only think this image is generally justified, and that Kasparov's followers are the exception. I hope I'm wrong.

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Client: In six days, do you hear me, six days, God made the world. And you are not bloody well capable of making me a pair of trousers in three months!
Tailor: But my dear Sir, my dear Sir, look at the world, and look at my trousers.
(Beckett)

Say what? If Russians (the whole 7%) lived there before the occupation, where did the influx of 20% more come from?

Before Germany assaulted you in Barbarosa, Soviets had assaulted and occupied Estonia. That continued when you pushed Germans back. That makes 50 years.

We also had small number of Russians and some amount came as refugees when you had your civil war. They stayed and wanted to be part of this nation, learned the language and were part of the people.
Why can't Russians in Estonia do the same?

What logic is that???

We have little to like about Bolsheviks. Wars and such have a habit to create mistrust. Besides, Bolshevism is dead.

Should they not like Bolsheviks, they should give what lands back? I am not bashing, but really am intrested to know.
Because we do follow the Russian attitudes towards the borders of Estonia.

I portray the new tones and new attitudes of Russians greatly similar as they were when Soviet Union was present.
THat is how I see them.

You cannot argue the fact that us Finns and Estonians have a right to suspect you Russians, as you have waged wars against us so many times.

OK, what are those lands?

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En uneksi. I do not dream.