Moscow: The opposition parties spearheading the post election protests have threatened to widen their demonstrations country-wide as the Russian capital braced for a massive rally challenging just concluded polls which have sent Moscow’s relations with Washington to an all time low.
Russian opposition leaders will hold, what they claim is the biggest countrywide rallies on Saturday to seek fresh polls of the State Duma in view of alleged rigging by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party in last weekend’s parliamentary elections.
In Moscow, around 30,000 people are likely to gather Bolotnaya Square near the Kremlin after the joint opposition movement ‘Solidarnost’ (Solidarity) received permission to hold protest rally. Besides Moscow, anti-regime rallies will also be organised in at least 13 other major cities.
Putin’s United Russia party won about 50 per cent of the vote in the parliamentary election, barely holding onto its majority in the State Duma — lower house of the parliament.
Earlier they were seeking permission to hold rally at Revolution Square facing Bolshoi Theatre and State Duma building, however, the City Hall was for limiting its strength to only 300 protesters. (PTI)
