Russians, in peaceful protest, call for Putin to quit
Source: Reuters
Several hundred Russians lined up in central Moscow on Saturday under the gaze of riot police to hand over handwritten appeals for President Vladimir Putin to quit, as similar protests took place in other cities.
Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for 17 years, has not said whether he will run in presidential elections in March 2018. But the 64-year-old politician, who enjoys high popularity ratings, is widely expected to do so.
Saturday's protest in the capital -- called "We're sick of him" -- was organized by the Open Russia movement founded by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Once Russia's richest man, he was freed by Putin in 2013 after spending a decade in jail for fraud, a charge Khodorkovsky said was politically-motivated.
One of hundreds shepherded into a queue behind metal barriers by police before handing over their petitions one-by- one, Anna, a 16-year-old Moscow schoolgirl, said she hoped Putin would get the message and not run again.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-opposition-protests-idUSKBN17V0A8
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)and his crassly corrupt Washington minion, the infamous republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief, Comrade Casino.
republicans cravenly refuse to lift as much as a finger in defense of the USA despite ACTS OF WAR* being perpetrated against America by evil empire** russia. deplorable. traitorous betrayal of America and American democracy.
* per dick cheney
** per ronald reagan
Tiphill
(31 posts)Golden Raisin
(4,613 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)We will have the same issue here soon unless ONE patriot in the republican party steps up.
Ligyron
(7,639 posts)I was hoping it would be thousands - tens of thousands actually, taking to the streets. Like the guy speaking on Rachael's show last night was saying there would be. The guy who survived 2 poisonings and escaped to the west.
Maybe there will be more people showing up in other reports later today.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)Which is what we are heading for here very quickly.
musette_sf
(10,206 posts)Yep.
Watch episode 3 of The Handmaid's Tale. Police state massacre of protesters. In Boston. I'm pretty unflappable when it comes to fictional TV programs, but that scared the shit out of me.
Suddenly, dystopia doesn't seem all that kakotopian any more.
dalton99a
(81,570 posts)elmac
(4,642 posts)he is another fascist pig that needs to go.
rogue emissary
(3,148 posts)Even though Putin and his regime attacked our elections. Many of his citizens don't support him and we are now in a very similar situation.
red dog 1
(27,849 posts)FigTree
(347 posts)Kennah
(14,315 posts)These are very brave Russian people!