Russia Sends Troops to Moscow after Protests
Russia has sent interior ministry troops to Moscow and increased the alert level of security forces after a protest of thousands of people opposing Vladimir Putin, officials said on Tuesday.
"They (the troops) have just one aim -- to ensure the security of the citizens," interior ministry forces spokesman Colonel Vasily Panchenkov told the Interfax news agency while a police spokesman said the security forces were now on a "heightened regime" of alert.
"The number of troops deployed is determined by the Moscow police," Panchenkov added, without giving numbers.
Russian News Service radio, citing its listeners, said several trucks filled with troops were heading into the center of Moscow along the city's main thoroughfares.
A spokesman for Moscow police said that up to 4,000 police and interior ministry troops would be deployed to ensure order during several planned rallies in the Russian capital on Tuesday.
"There's nothing extraordinary going on," the spokesman told Agence France Presse, saying the troops deployed in the streets would be from several military units.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the interior ministry told the RIA Novosti news agency that the strengthened security regime would be kept in place until the official end to vote counting from Sunday's polls.
Several thousand people took to the streets in central Moscow late Monday despite pouring rain for a rally against the results of Sunday's elections in which Putin's United Russia party won but with a sharply reduced majority.
Pro-Kremlin youth organization Nashi was set to stage a mass rally on Tuesday expected to attract thousands of supporters banging drums near the Kremlin walls to show their backing for United Russia.
over 12 years
I dont think so...
over 12 years
Putin and Assad what a couple they make lol
over 12 years
LOL, that Feltman is an honest man.
Putin is afraid of Jews like Kordokovsky.
The Soviets created such a corrupt system that only someone who had no compassion for the Russian public could operate in that system.
So now Putin is returning to the Soviet system in its full expression: cult of personality and forceful repression.
The best example of this reactionary approach to government is Israel. The one good thing about Israel is that it is so rigid, it is like a statue, so you can always be sure that, when you wake up in the morning, it will still be there. Of course, it might have toppled over in the night.
over 12 years
Maybe the Arab spring will reach Russia, where the government defends dictators and is run by a dictator.
it is their turn now :)