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Moscow police beat anti-Putin protesters


Pierre the Great

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6554989.stm

Kasparov arrested at Moscow rally

Russian opposition activist Garry Kasparov was among about 170 people arrested as police moved against a banned anti-Kremlin rally in Moscow.

The former chess champion was freed several hours later after being fined $40 (£20) for public order offences.

The huge security operation was launched to prevent protesters from gathering at Pushkin Square.

President Vladimir Putin denies he is trampling on democracy, accusing the opposition of destabilising Russia.

Mr Kasparov leads the United Civil Front group, part of the opposition coalition The Other Russia.

He said he had been "walking with a group of people along the pavement without any slogans" when riot police had surrounded them.

"They grabbed everyone without distinction, without asking any questions," he said.

Before being pushed away, he shouted: "Tell your leaders that this regime is criminal, is a police state. They arrest people everywhere because they are scared stiff."

More than 9,000 police had been drafted into Moscow to prevent the rally going ahead.

Mr Kasparov's swift arrest followed warnings by the prosecution office on the eve of the march, stating that anyone participating risked being detained.

The security operation in Moscow came as Russia warned it wanted the extradition of London-based exile Boris Berezovsky.

Mr Berezovsky told the UK's Guardian newspaper he was plotting "revolution" to overthrow Vladimir Putin.

Accusing Mr Putin of creating an authoritarian regime, the tycoon said that Russia's leadership could only be removed by force.

Later, he clarified his words, stating that he backed "bloodless change" and did not support violence.

MOSCOW - Riot police beat and detained protesters as thousands defied an official ban and attempted to stage a rally Saturday against President

Vladimir Putin's government, which opponents accuse of rolling back freedoms Russians have enjoyed since the end of Soviet communism.

A similar march planned for Sunday in St. Petersburg has also been banned by authorities.

A coalition of opposition groups organized the "Dissenters March" to protest the economic and social policies of Putin as well as a series of Kremlin actions that critics say has stripped Russians of many political rights. Organizers said only about 2,000 demonstrators turned out.

Thousands of police officers massed to keep the demonstrators off landmark Pushkin Square in downtown Moscow, beating some and detaining many others

""It is no longer a country ... where the government tries to pretend it is playing by the letter and spirit of the law," Kasparov said outside the court building, appearing unfazed by his detention.

"We now stand somewhere between Belarus and Zimbabwe," he said.

It was the fourth time in recent months that anti-Putin demonstrations — all called Dissenters Marches — have been broken up with force or smothered by a huge police presence."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070415/ap_on_...russia_protests

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hmmm 9,000 police officers for 2,000 protesters. YIKES now that's brutal.

I thought the iron fist days were over? lol, wait, this is Russia.

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Putin is a shady character. Not that I think Bush is any better, but Putin seems to not even bother to have his dirty deeds done in secret. I saw a documentary about his handling of several Russian oligarchs. You DON'T want to mess with Putin. If you cross him you'd better start planning on a life in exile.

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Putin has turned the country into one giant big company. Gasprom the biggest Oil Company is controlled by him. The CEO of the company is in the government and will most likely be his successor.

It would be like if Bill Gates was Commerce Secretary in the United States. Conflict of Interest? What conflict? lol

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