Yahoo – AFP,
Anna Smolchenko, Olga Rotenberg, 21 Sep 2014
Russian
opposition activists, one of them wearing a Ukrainan flag, rally in support
of
freedom of press in central Moscow, on April 13, 2014 (AFP Photo/Anatoly Tanin)
|
Russian
opposition activists, one of them wearing a Ukrainan flag, rally in support of
freedom of press in central Moscow, on April 13, 2014
Moscow
(AFP) - Thousands of Russians on Sunday marched through Moscow to protest
against the Kremlin's involvement in the Ukraine crisis, in the country's first
major anti-war rally since fighting erupted in April.
A huge
column of protesters, including prominent opposition activists, moved through
the heart of the capital to condemn Moscow's role in a conflict that has
claimed nearly 3,000 lives and pitted Russians against Ukrainians.
Many
carried blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and placards emblazoned with slogans
such as "No to war" and "Putin, stop lying", chanting:
"Ukraine, we are with you."
"I
believe that the war has been provoked by Putin," said wheelchair-bound
protester Vladimir Kashitsyn, aged 44. "I want Putin to stop meddling in
Ukraine's internal affairs."
"This
war is a madness and crime against Ukraine, residents of Donbass and
Russians," added 34-year-old Igor Yasin.
The rally,
dubbed "The Peace March", comes amid a Russian media blackout on the
presence of Russian troops in Ukraine.
Kiev and
the West say the Kremlin has sent in regular troops to prop up separatists
fighting against Kiev. Moscow has denied the claim.
Some
chanted slogans of Ukraine's popular uprising, which ousted pro-Kremlin
president Viktor Yanukovych in February, such as "Out with the gang"
and "Glory to Ukraine".
One of the
organisers, Sergei Davidis, put the turnout at "tens of thousands".
Police, which tend to downplay the popularity of opposition rallies, said
nearly 5,000 had turned up.
'Undeclared war'
Russian
national television has portrayed Kiev authorities as a "fascist
junta" bent on persecuting Russian-speakers during the conflict.
Following a
crackdown on dissent, opposition rallies have become increasingly rare and
anyone who dared to publicly question the Kremlin's Ukraine policy has been
pilloried.
Organisers
had said some 50,000 were expected to attend Sunday's protest, which was
approved by Moscow authorities.
Some 1,000
people also turned up for an unsanctioned rally in Russia's second city of
Saint Petersburg, an AFP correspondent reported.
Ahead of
the Moscow march prominent Russians took to social networks calling on their
compatriots to attend.
Yury
Ryzhov, a 83-year-old former ambassador to France, urged Russians to protest
the Kremlin's "undeclared war". "The bell tolls for thee,"
he said in a nod to one of Ernest Hemingway's best-known works.
"What
have we come to if in our country peace is considered a shame and betrayal and
war a matter of honour, valour and heroism?" said television star Leonid
Parfyonov.
Russian
opposition activists hold they party flags and a Ukrainan flag (right) as they
rally in support of freedom of press in central Moscow, on April 13, 2014 (AFP
Photo/Anatoly Tanin)
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"One
should never forget who began that war, who annexed Crimea," added poet
Igor Irtenyev, asking whether Russians could stand by as soldiers were coming
home in "pine boxes".
'Cannot
remain silent'
A ceasefire
agreed between Kiev and pro-Moscow separatists on September 5 to end the
fighting in eastern Ukraine has been punctuated by repeated clashes, and many
fear it could easily break down.
Organisers
of the march demanded that Russian authorities stop their "irresponsible
aggressive policies" that lead the country on a path to isolation,
economic trouble and growing "fascist tendencies".
"These
policies have brought war to Ukraine and cost the lives of thousands of
Ukrainians and Russians," they said on Facebook.
"Russian
soldiers including conscripts get killed and taken prisoner on Ukrainian
territory. This is already direct, undisguised military intervention, which
cannot be justified."
The site of
exiled Kremlin opponent Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who announced on Saturday he was
willing to lead the country in times of crisis, urged Russians to distribute
anti-war leaflets.
"The
consequences of the Ukraine war do not allow us to remain silent," said
the site, khodorkovsky.ru.
Thousands
of Russians took to the streets of Moscow on March 15, a day before a
controversial referendum in the Russian-annexed Crimea voted to split from
Ukraine.
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