Russia Feature: The White-Ribbon Protests Return

Footage showing the scale and positive atmosphere of protesters in Russia as a singer performs a political rap to the crowds

See also Russia Feature: Renewed Protests Against Putin... But Will the "Dear" Leader Hang On?

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Saturday saw peaceful, large protests across Russia. In Moscow, the central site of the demonstrations, estimates of crowd size vary. Whilst government figures suggest around 30,000, some protest organisers have claimed upwards of 120,000 attended the rally.

homas Grove and Guy Faulconbridge reported for Reuters:

The big turnout is likely to encourage organizers to believe they can keep up the momentum of the biggest opposition demonstrations since Putin rose to power in 1999, although the prime minister seems intent on riding out the protests.

"I see enough people to take the Kremlin and the White House (government headquarters) right now!" anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, who has emerged as the most inspirational of the opposition leaders, said to loud cheers.

"But we are a peaceful force, we won't do it - yet. But if the crooks and thieves continue trying to deceive us and lie to us, we will take (power) ourselves. It is ours!"

Alexei Navalny, recently released from jail after arrest at a post-election protest, addressed the Moscow crowds:

Several thousand protesters also took to the streets in St Petersburg. The Telegraph reports:

Protesters attended two separate rallies --- one organised by "A Just Russia", one of the opposition parties which fought the parliamentary election on December 4th and gained 64 seats, the other held by the unofficial opposition where Nationalists joined supporters of "Other Russia".

“The new election law must dismiss the current Duma and call new elections because the Duma and the Federation Council should serve the people and people must trust those who sit there do so with a legal mandate and not as a result of faslifications,” said Sergei Mironov leader of "A Just Russia".

Protesters hold up a model showing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev in jail:

The two weeks since gave the organisers mtime to prepare. We titled our coverage of that day: "The White-Ribbon Protests" in anticipation of what seemed to be an emerging symbol of protest. Today that symbol --- along with multiple white balloons --- was much observed. Undoubtedly, however, there will be questions raised by Putin and his supporters, including how the opposition organisation is supported and financed.

In an attack on the original protests Putin was quick to mock the white ribbon symbol, whilst accusing demonstrators of being aided from overseas. As The Guardian reported:

"This is a developed scheme to destabilise society that did not rise up on its own," Putin said, before turning his attention to the symbol that has been adopted by protesters to show their discontent – a white ribbon, according to protesters; a condom, according to the powerful prime minister.

"Frankly, when I looked at the television screen and saw something hanging from someone's chest, honestly, it's indecent, but I decided that it was propaganda to fight Aids – that they had hung, pardon, a condom up," Putin said.

Protesters mocked Putin in return. Condoms were blown up and carried as balloons, whilst many creative placards poked fun at the Prime Minister. Whilst any major governmental shakeup still seems in the distance, the increasing personal attacks on Putin have the potential to weaken his position. Equally, however, they may harden his stance and strengthen the support of his base.

Russia now enters a 10-day national holiday, which will likely keep protests low, but we can expect to see renewed demonstrations in January, carried forward by the momentum of today's events.

Protesters mock Putin in placards and by carrying condoms: