Those who agreed were kicked

A major provocation at the March of Dissent was avoided only thanks to the principled position of the staff of the Theater for Young Spectators. As Novaya Gazeta found out, shortly before the march, hooligans hired by the Young Guard of United Russia came to the theater and asked to be allowed in, so that later, at the height of the rally, they would run out either in Berezovsky masks or in clown costumes, holding banners with provocative slogans. But at the Youth Theater they were shown the door.

Nevertheless, provocateurs were still spotted on the march. On the back side of the Griboyedov monument, five young people unfurled well-made posters with the inscriptions for several minutes: “Kasparov, Friedman, Kasyanov. Mind, money, Russian experience" and "Kasparov, Friedman, Kasyanov. Let's make Russia freer." The guys looked like beginner sports hooligans. One can only guess who hired them. One way or another, the posters they held are not cheap, and only those youth organizations created by the authorities have no problems with money, and the names of these organizations are well known.
Information has appeared in the media that the actions of pro-Kremlin organizations are organized according to the principle of network marketing. Low-level managers receive five hundred rubles for each person. They give 200–300 rubles to those they hire. For participation in promotions associated with risk, they pay more - 1,500 rubles. If peaceful students are suitable for waving the flag, then football hooligans are hired to carry out provocations, as a rule, from the “Spartak” “bed”.
According to Novaya Gazeta, on March 3, football ultras were waiting for participants in the March of Dissent on Sovetskie streets crossing Suvorovsky Prospekt. But they didn’t wait. The dissenters turned onto Nevsky, however, and among them there were quite a few guys dressed in fan fashion - in the “cashles” style. And if clashes had occurred, it is not a fact that the advantage would be on the side of the provocateurs.
On April 15, Putin Youth activists, who were unkindly greeted by the Youth Theater workers, had no choice but to drink beer and nervously smoke on the sidelines. According to eyewitnesses, at the meeting of dissenters, the leaders of the St. Petersburg branch of MGER (Young Guard of United Russia), Alexey Tsivilev and Oleg Vedutov, identified themselves. It is known that the latter used to be an active football fan.

Pavel ULYANITSKY
Photo by Alexander BANKOV