Thousands rally in Russia against economic policy
Today at 14:39 Associated Press
Thousands of protesters rallied Saturday in several cities across Russia to protest the government's economic policy and demand more political freedomsST.PETERSBURG - Thousands of protesters rallied Saturday in several cities across Russia to protest the government's economic policy and demand more political freedoms
Many participants in the rallies, dubbed the "Day of Wrath" by the opposition, demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
About 1,000 people rallied in St. Petersburg holding placards "Putin's team must resign!" Police didn't intervene.
An opposition rally in the far eastern port of Vladivostok drew about 1,500 people, and similar protests were also planned in Moscow and dozens of other cities throughout Russia on Saturday.
Putin moved into the prime minister's seat in 2008 after eight years as president but retains much of his power. The opposition has accused him of rolling back many of the democratic achievements of the 1990s.
"Nothing will change until Putin stays at the helm," Olga Kurnosova of the United Civil Front, an umbrella group uniting several opposition parties and movements, said at St.Petersburg's rally. "We don't want him to continue ruling."
Some protesters criticized Putin's Cabinet for failing to compensate a rise in utility tariffs that has affected living standards.
"I'm worried about growing gas and electricity prices," Vyacheslav Ivanov, a 71-year old retiree. "The prices are growing, and we are getting poorer."
Many others blamed the government for red tape and rampant corruption that has stifled business.
"I came to this rally because it's impossible to develop small business in this country," said the 58-year old Yelena Balikina. She said she had to close her business venture because of official restrictions.
"They stamp small business out with taxes and inspections," Balikina said. "And you have to pay bribes on every step."
In Vladivostok, where many residents draw their incomes from trading in cars imported from nearby Japan, demonstrators protested the latest restrictive measures against foreign vehicles introduced by the authorities in a bid to protect local car makers.
Some also carried political placards, such as "Freedom of speech, freedom of elections!"
In Moscow several hundred people rallied to demand a reform of the Russian traffic police, which has been widely criticized for corruption and inefficiency.
http://www.kyivpost.com/news/russia/detail/62166/
簡訊：俄羅斯全國「憤怒日」示威
更新時間 2010年 3月 20日, 格林尼治標準時間16:55
成千上萬俄羅斯人周六走上街頭示威，抗議生活水平低下、地區問題以及普京政府的政策。
俄國全境從遠東的符拉迪沃斯托克（海參崴）到波羅地海沿岸的聖彼得堡和加裏寧格勒都有人上街遊行。組織者把這一天稱作「憤怒的一天」。
在莫斯科市中心，警方驅散了遊行隊伍，並逮捕了70名示威者。有報道說，當局關閉了一個宣傳遊行的網站。
普京基本掃除了俄國的反對派活動。但是BBC在莫斯科的記者說，他的政府仍然擔心示威的蔓延。
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/trad/china/2010/03/100320_brief_russia_rally.shtml
俄羅斯各地舉行反政府示威
(明報)2010年3月20日 星期六 23:20
俄羅斯 各地20日舉行反政府示威，抗議總理普京 無力因應10年來最嚴重的經濟衰退，令生活質素倒退。
示威由太平洋濱海城市海參崴率先起跑，有至少1500人參加。
示威者聚集在海參崴一處廣場，參加的多個反政府團體聯盟領袖高聲宣讀各項訴求，內容以拼經濟為主，但也要求普京下台。
（路透社）
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/100320/4/h3ud.html
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