02 June 2004 23:44
Yabloko, Communists protesting near Duma
MOSCOW. June 2 (Interfax) - Followers of the Yabloko and the Communist parties staged an unsanctioned protest rally
against a new referendum bill near the State Duma on Wednesday morning.
An Interfax correspondent reported from the scene that the protesters were carrying banners that read 'No to the
Disgrace of the Authorities!', 'Defend Democracy!', 'No to a Police State!' and others. They
also protested against a new bill on rallies and electoral system reform.
The police tried to detain several participants in the rally,
which led to a brawl when the protesters attempted to wrestle the
The protesters were not allowed to approach the entrance to the State Duma building, and they gathered at the
intersection of Tverskaya and Okhotny Ryad Streets in front of the National Hotel.
detainees away from the police.
The rally near the State Duma is continuing, although First Secretary of the Moscow city council of the Communist
Party Alexander Kuvayev called on the people to get on the metro and leave.
The rallying oppositionists have scattered around in front of the building, chanting slogans like 'Fascism Will
Not Pass!', 'All Power To the Soviets', and others.
The State Duma is scheduled to consider a new version of the federal constitutional law on referendums in the first
reading on Wednesday. [RU EUROPE ASIA EEU EMRG POL VIO] va tj <>
[Interfax] |
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