Anti-fascist rally in Moscow

On November 4, 2006, an anti-fascist rally took place on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, organized by the Russian Anti-Fascist Front (RAF) with the participation of the left anti-fascist front. According to various estimates, the rally gathered approximately 700-800 participants (the general photographs show that the number of its participants is only slightly inferior to the mass of the rally of right-wing radicals (cf. photographs of the portals Grani.Ru (Bolotnaya Square) and Lenta.Ru (Maiden Field)).

The beginning of the rally was marked by a neo-Nazi provocation, which, however, did not come as a surprise either to the organizers of the rally or to the riot police. Even the day before, a coalition of neo-Nazi groups in Moscow called on its supporters to come to Bolotnaya Square, clearly hinting at the possibility of an attack. However, as soon as the neo-Nazis (more than a hundred people) gathered at the fence, that is, on the other side of the Obvodny Canal, began to raise their hands in a Nazi salute, they were immediately attacked by riot police, who drove them through the alleys and detained several people.

After this, free access to the rally was closed, as a result of which some radical anti-fascists (in aesthetics and behavior quite reminiscent of skinheads) were unable to attend the rally - the police suspected them of being neo-Nazis. However, being carried away by precautions, the guards did not let other people through who did not look like skinheads.

Well-known human rights activists, activists of public organizations and political parties, and cultural figures spoke at the rally.

The rally participants adopted a resolution that, in particular, expressed concern about the inability of the authorities to counter the threat of the spread of fascist, xenophobic sentiments in the country and a call for the unification of the forces of civil society to counter the fascist threat.

Fortunately, no incidents or attacks, unlike the December anti-fascist action , occurred at the end of the rally. However, in order to avoid attacks by neo-Nazis, the police still escorted a group of activists from the Vanguard of Red Youth (AKM) to the metro.