In the Kremlin

The day before

December 9, 2011 Alexander Ryklin

Late in the evening of December 8, two representatives of the opposition went to the city hall - co -chairman of Parnas, Vladimir Ryzhkov and journalist Sergei Parkhomenko. They were waiting there. The messengers returned with paper confirming the consent of the Moscow authorities to hold a rally on Bolotnaya Square. The coordinated number is 30,000 people. Time-from 14-00 to 18-00. I will immediately make a reservation that the decision to go in this matter to meet the Moscow authorities - initially the rally planned to be held on the Revolution Square - it was completely difficult. And now, many civilian and opposition activists consider this compromise unacceptable, and the position of those (and among them was your humble servant), who ultimately agreed to Bolotnaya Square - cowardly and amazing. More serious accusations were also sounded. For example, in betrayal. However, in order.

On December 8, two official applicants of a rally on the Revolution Square-a spokesman for the Left Front Anastasia Udaltsova and a member of the Political Council of Solidarity Nadezhda Mityushkin-tried to clarify the situation in the Moscow City Hall in the morning. And they fooled their heads all day there. Already on December 7, it was more or less obvious that the authorities would not allow a large rally on the Revolution Square (which, incidentally, was agreed on 300 people) - Mosvodokanal began repair work in the area of ​​the monument. It is difficult to say who was the first to formulate the thesis that now it is not worth it to rest and if the authorities are offered, for example, Pushkin’s or Bolotnaya, then we must agree. But the truth is that initially Mityushkin and Udaltsov came to the city hall, ready for a compromise. The Moscow authorities started, as it seemed to them, a cunning game - they offered opposition ladies to write a new application for a rally, now already on Bolotnaya, promising to sign it immediately. Mityushkina and Udaltsova, of course, refused to do this, realizing that they would be deceived. (There is no doubt that this would happen that way: as soon as a new statement would have been in the hands of officials, they would immediately propose, according to the law, to wait for the due lobbying deadlines, and the rally would be disrupted on December 10), therefore, the position of formal applicants was formulated simply: we will not ask for anything new. Are you ready to coordinate swamp? Give the paper. No - we, following the letter of the law, bring people to the area of ​​the revolution. Moscow bosses did not make a decision until the evening, and about eight in the evening of Mityushkin and Udaltsova left the city hall. But by that time, power surrendered: at about the same time, different influential characters already told us that they absolutely agreed on a rally in Bolotnaya Square, and on our conditions. And by the number of participants, and in time. Moreover, the authorities pledged not to repair any obstacles to those who came to the Revolution Square, and even promised to assist in the adoption of these people to the rally venue - that is, to Bolotnaya Square. Actually, at that moment, Ryzhkov and Parkhomenko went to the city hall for permits. Then a storm burst out on the Internet.

So, two polar points of view prevail. First: a rally on Bolotnaya is a shameful surrender to the authorities. The second: most likely there will really be a lot of people, and we are obliged to ensure their safety. Fierce accusations were rained against each other.

I must say right away: I supported Nemtsov and Ryzhkov in this matter and advocated the consent to transfer the rally. For purely pragmatic reasons - I believe that the time for total confrontation with the authorities has not yet come. Now it is important for us what is called, to conduct a review of strength and understand what we, in fact, have. An unauthorized action with serious consequences would not have given an answer to this question, it would be difficult for us to calculate the number of participants. Meanwhile, I am aware that a significant part of the “solidarity” and representatives of a number of other organizations friendly to us (for example, the National Enterprise or activists of the RPR, Parnassus) do not share such an approach. I respect the opinion of my comrades. In addition, I consider it necessary to declare that I consider disgusting and provocative statements by some representatives of “moderate demonstrators”, calling those who still insist on the Revolution Square, “radicals” and “scumbags”.

For years, you, from the side, watched these “radicals” and “scumbags” from the side, riot police are blushing, how they are filled with autozaks, how they receive real terms. You, like all decent people, of course, sympathized with us. We are grateful to you for this sympathy. But now it suddenly turned out that you have, it turns out, a special opinion on the organization of street protests. Moreover, apparently, so correct that you are ready to subject your opponents to immediately obstruct. It remains only to be surprised that for so many years you have not shared with us this remarkable knowledge. Probably, your method is effective only in relation to the huge masses of people, so you waited for tens of thousands of demonstrators to the streets of Moscow.

Yes, I will come to Bolotnaya Square on Saturday. But, like many of my comrades, I do not believe either the Moscow authorities or my native law enforcement agencies for a second. Therefore, I reserve the right to act on circumstances. And I reserve the right to call for this our supporters.

And most importantly. Do not forget that “solidarity” is a political organization, and in the near future there is one main task - a change of power in the Russian Federation. All the rest are secondary. And we will move consistently in this direction. The upcoming rally, its requirements and resolution are an important milestone along this path.