Opposition protestors to take to the streets of Moscow for the second weekend in a row
Those opposing the exclusion of opposition candidates from the upcoming parliamentary elections will protest again today in Moscow.
Tensions re-surfaced late last year when a number of opposition candidates were disallowed from contesting the September 8 Moscow City elections. While the candidates state they received enough signatures to run for office, authorities say 600 of them were illegitimate. In response, 20,000 opposition supporters took to the streets of Moscow last Sunday.
Following Alexei Navalny’s “unauthorised” call for protests, he was sentenced to a month of imprisonment on Wednesday – the latest in a series of short-term imprisonments for Russia’s unofficial opposition leader. Rather than deterring protestors, the arrest has strengthened their motivation.
Though the Moscow election is not a national vote, as the home of one in ten Russians, trends in this city often spread across the country.
If the protestors maintain their momentum, expect concessions. If candidates opposing Putin are able to gain seats in the parliament, expect Putin’s dominance to face some challenge.
Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.
