MOSCOW - An around-the-clock “People’s Walk” through the streets of central Moscow moved through its second night, as Russia’s opposition movement continued its protest against Vladimir Putin’s inauguration as President of Russia for his third term.
As peaceful as it might sound, the People’s Walk was met by Russian police and special forces, who arrested some 200 people through Tuesday night.
These nocturnal walks, which have a spontaneous feel to them and meander through Moscow, come as the protesters are weighing different options for continued protests now that Putin has officially become President once again. Opposition forces are considering different options, including the continuation of mass nocturnal “walks” as well as working with political parties to organize more protest rallies.
Two of the protest movement leaders, Aleksei Navalny and Sergei Udaltsov, were among those arrested, and were expected in court on Wednesday.
This new momentum for the anti-Putin forces comes amidst the backdrop of Moscow’s annual celebrations Wednesday to mark the end of what is known as the Great Patriotic War, the fight to the death between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, which is considered separate from World War II. Some 140,000 soldiers were on hand for a military parade through the capital.
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Photo - semadagaev
