Protests, December 2005

Svetlana Kovaleva, Demos Center

The review brought to the attention of readers is devoted to rallies, demonstrations, pickets and other protest actions organized by citizens in defense of their civil, social, economic and other rights. The review was prepared by the Demos Center with the support of the OSI - Assistance Foundation.

United actions. All-Russian protests

On December 10, in 20 cities of Russia (Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Vladivostok, Chita, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Irkutsk, Tomsk, Ulan-Ude, Yoshkar-Ola, etc.) protest actions "March of Dissent" were held in defense of the constitutional rights of citizens.

It was reported that the action was organized by the United Civil Front, as well as "representatives of other democratic forces."

The pickets protested against the unconstitutional restrictions on the electoral rights of citizens and changes in the country's political system.

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in several Russian cities were held From 19 to 21 December , the Days of United Actions in Defense of Non-Commercial Organizations . The campaign was directed against bill No. 233364-4, which tightens control over public associations, and was timed to coincide with the adoption by the State Duma of Russia in the second reading of the scandalous bill.

"Days of united action in defense of NGOs" were actively supported in many regions of Russia (Voronezh, Arkhangelsk, Rostov, Novokuznetsk, Ryazan, Balakovo, Saratov region, etc.). In Vladimir and in the Pskov region, among other things, telegrams were sent to the President of the Russian Federation. Representatives of Chuvash NGOs sent collective letters to State Duma deputies from their region A. Aksakov, A. Bronitsyn and P. Semenov.

labor protests

On December 20, in the village of Moskovsky, Moscow Region, a congress of the Trade Union of Aviation Workers of Radar, Radio Navigation and Communications of Russia was held. The main event of the congress was the decision to hold the All-Russian strike of workers in radar, radio navigation and communications. The reason for this decision was the refusal of the leadership of the State Corporation for Internal Affairs to sign the Agreement on raising wages to a level that satisfies the workers.

On November 26, in Aleksin, Tula region, about 80 liquidators of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the city took part in a one-day warning hunger strike due to the fact that since July 1, 2000, social protection committees have not paid liquidators the compensation required by federal law.

On December 5, a two-week protest action by former miners was suspended in the town of Zverevo, Rostov Region. The strikers demanded an increase in the size of the pension to 8-10 thousand rubles and the return of the right to receive ration coal for heating houses, which was lost several years ago. On December 7, all protests of the Rostov miners were completed, as the leaders of the regional administration at a meeting with representatives of the miners promised to satisfy all their demands.

New Moscow law on rallies

eventually adopted new Moscow law "On Amendments to Decree of the Government of Moscow No. Moscow officials made several statements during December, anticipating the administrative district (CAO) of the capital must be sent personally to the mayor of Moscow

In particular, on December 19, the prefect of the Central Administrative District, Sergei Baidakov, asked Yuri Luzhkov to ban "concerts, show programs and other mass actions" on Vasilyevsky Spusk on the grounds that such actions "have a detrimental effect on the technical condition of historical objects." In addition, according to the prefect, events are unacceptable on Vasilyevsky Spusk, "the aesthetic value of which is in doubt."

The starting point for some statements was the opposition in absentia between anti-fascists and nationalist Protestants. On December 18, an anti-fascist march was held in Moscow, which was held in response to the nationalist march on November 4. To the sound of the song "Get Up, Huge Country," one and a half thousand people marched from Chistye Prudy to the Solovetsky Stone on the Lubyanka.

On the same day, the Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI) and the Eurasian Youth Union (ECM) held actions. The speech of the right took place, as it had been a month and a half ago, under the general slogan "Russia for the Russians." Representatives of the Moscow authorities, who have repeatedly stated that they will not allow a repetition of "pro-fascist speeches", explained that they were "simply not aware" of the upcoming actions.

The head of the Moscow police department, Vladimir Pronin, spoke in favor of limiting political activity, especially in relation to nationalist organizations, in order to avoid a repetition of pro-fascist actions. And the interdepartmental anti-terrorist commission of the city recommended in the period from November 27 to December 6, 2005 "to take measures to limit the holding of mass events" in connection with the election campaign, as well as because of "possible provocations." "We will carefully consider all applications for holding actions," Nikolai Kulikov, head of the Department for Work with Security Bodies of the Moscow Government, warned.

Opposition representatives immediately called the new law another toughening of the rights of citizens to participate in mass rallies. "The reactionary regime is advancing, this is its next step," said the leader of the National Bolshevik Party, Eduard Limonov. However, he acknowledged that the resolution would change little for the NBP rallies: "There are always so many police at our actions that they look like a prisoner's walk."

New forms of pressure on protest organizers

In Izhevsk, not political repressions were used against the demonstrators, but economic measures. Thus, on December 12 , the press service of the administration of Izhevsk disseminated information that the transport companies of the city intend to sue the organizers of the protest rallies on October 29 and December 9 for compensation for damage caused by blocking the streets. “During the picket on November 29...,” the administration’s press release says, “the organizers... committed a violation of public order, expressed in the unauthorized blocking of the movement of passenger urban public transport along the carriageway of Pushkinskaya Street for 1 hour ... Similar the situation developed on December 9, 2005. During the rally, an unauthorized blocking of the roadway of Pushkinskaya St. took place, which led to a 40-minute downtime of transport.After the violation of public order, administrative proceedings were initiated, after which the materials will be transferred to the court.Transport enterprises of Izhevsk.. ... intend to file a lawsuit against the organizers of social and political events to compensate for the damage caused as a result of a violation of public order."