The long-expected opposition rally protesting rigged election results took place today on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow. People gathered on the square, as well as on a nearby bank of the River Moskva and on bridges leading to Bolotnaya Square.
According to official police reports, some 25,000 people attended the event; however, unofficial sources cite various figures, including 40,000, 80,000 or even 150,000 demonstrators, RBK reports. Some of the protestors came to Revolutsiya Square – the originally-announced site of the demonstration and, according to the rally’s organizers, some 9,000 people marched from safety there to the demonstration site on Bolotnaya Square.
No serious incidents of violations occurred during the rally, while the police - who were there and in other parts of central Moscow in great numbers - didn’t interfere, and there are no reports – official or unofficial – of arrests or injuries of protestors. However, unknown perpetrators launched a smoke bomb on one of the bridges.
Russian state-run ‘First Channel’ reported on the rally as well as interviewing Vladimir Lukin, chief Russian ombudsman, who praised the behavior of the protestors, as well as that of the police officers.
As a result of the rally a declaration was adopted, demanding a revocation of the rigged elections, investigation of the Central Electoral Commission’s and his chief officer’s activities andl alleged frauds and violations, as well as registration of all opposition parties. The protesters also demanded freedom for all political convicts and introduction of democratic changes into Russian electoral law. The organizers of the rally gave the authorities 2 weeks to comply with their demands, after which they promised to organize an even wider popular peaceful protest action.
