Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Russia have taken part in a countrywide rally against alleged vote rigging in the country’s parliamentary election.
Protesters claimed there was widespread manipulation in favour of the ruling United Russia party and demanded an immediate re-run of the election. While some said they also want the head of the electoral commission step down, others called on Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to resign.
The size of the protest – the biggest in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 – was imposing, and may be the strongest sign yet that Prime Minister Putin, who is warning up to return as president, may indeed not fulfil his long held ambition. In Moscow alone, over 50,000 people from various opposition groups, including Communists, nationalists and Western-backed liberals, united against the government.
President Dmitry Medvedev’s acknowledgement that there were electoral law violations during the elections on 4 December, and his decision to launch an investigation into the matter, shows how serious the situation has become. However, we do not believe that such an investigation would be independent.
Blaming America or another outside influences for the protesters, as Prime Minister Putin was quick to do, is an undemocratic act. The people are not fools and must not be taken for a ride anymore. Anything other than a free and fair election will almost certainly throw Russia into turmoil.
news@metroeireann.com
