Kasparov seized by Russian police

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2007-11-24 12:07pm

Beeb wrote: Kasparov seized by Russian police
Russian police seize an opposition activist in Moscow 24-11-07
Clashes erupted when activists tried to break through police lines
Russian police have detained opposition leader and former world chess champion Garry Kasparov.

He and other critics of President Vladimir Putin were arrested as police broke up a rally in Moscow organised by Mr Kasparov's Other Russia coalition.

Police moved in when protesters tried to march to the election commission, which had barred Other Russia candidates from next week's election.

President Putin's supporters are widely expected to win the 2 December poll.

Other Russia brings together a broad coalition of mainstream politicians, leftists and nationalists, all of whom are opposed to the Kremlin.

Movement growing

About 3,000 protesters attended Saturday's rally, carrying banners and calling for the country to be rid of President Putin.

In speeches, leaders of the movement bitterly criticised the upcoming parliamentary election, saying there was no choice for voters.

Attending the rally for the first time was the leader of one of the mainstream liberal parties - a sign that the movement is growing, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow.

The trouble broke out at the end of the rally when about 100 protestors tried to break through police lines.

They began to march to the election commission and were stopped by riot police.

Mr Putin stands down when Russia elects a new president in March 2008, as the constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term.

He has decided to stand as a parliamentary candidate - which effectively guarantees him a seat in the next parliament.

The Supreme Court has dismissed an opposition complaint against the move.

On one hand, this matches Premier Sta-er, Putin's delightful record of re-instatting a good olf fashioned dictatorship. On the other hand, the protestors did apparently behave violently, and this is the Beeb reporting. Eh, I'll go with the side that has a Chess supermind (IF not power) on it's side.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2007-11-24 12:12pm

Note, Kasparov is running for political office, specifically, he's running for Putin's job.
This falls under the habit of a "bad thing"

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2007-11-24 12:41pm

So they go down. Pity them and just another inication of the clearly semi-fascist "democracy" in Russia (what, who'd guess), but I love that:

Other Russia brings together a broad coalition of mainstream politicians, leftists and nationalists, all of whom are opposed to the Kremlin.

Let me correct that for the BBC:

Other Russia brings together a broad coalition of libertarian nutjobs, neo-fascists and radical war communists, all of whom are opposed to the Kremlin.

I'm sorry, but any optimism towards this band of raving lunatics called an "alliance" by mistake, is just misplaced.

OmegaGuy · Post by **OmegaGuy** » 2007-11-24 01:01pm

Another addition to the crazy and dangerous exploits of the World Chess Champions....

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-11-24 01:12pm

Stas Bush wrote:So they go down. Pity them and just another inication of the clearly semi-fascist "democracy" in Russia (what, who'd guess), but I love that:
Other Russia brings together a broad coalition of mainstream politicians, leftists and nationalists, all of whom are opposed to the Kremlin.
Let me correct that for the BBC:
Other Russia brings together a broad coalition of libertarian nutjobs, neo-fascists and radical war communists, all of whom are opposed to the Kremlin.
I'm sorry, but any optimism towards this band of raving lunatics called an "alliance" by mistake, is just misplaced.

Do you include Kasparov in this? If not, is he, in your opinion, a good candidate?

Ritterin Sophia · Post by **Ritterin Sophia** » 2007-11-24 05:33pm

Kasparov pretty much predicted this when he was on the Colbert Report.

Post by **Vympel** » 2007-11-24 10:32pm

Do you include Kasparov in this? If not, is he, in your opinion, a good candidate?

Kasparov put this odious alliance of neo-fascist whackjobs together, so I would say no, he's not a good candidate. The schmuck has got von Papen written all over him.

Mange · Post by **Mange** » 2007-11-25 05:53am

I haven't found it online yet, but I just heard that Boris Nemtsov was arrested today in St Petersburg during a demonstration. Way to go, Russia.

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2007-11-25 12:21pm

I haven't found it online yet, but I just heard that Boris Nemtsov was arrested today in St Petersburg during a demonstration.

He was. In Omsk, several comsomol youths have been detained, as well as anyone participating in free propaganda (that is, drawing graffiti, disseminating leaflets or whatnot without a state license).

But regions are not as bad as Moscow and Petersburg. In large cities, the crackdown on any opposition is very swift and violent.

Mange · Post by **Mange** » 2007-11-25 02:09pm

Stas Bush wrote:
I haven't found it online yet, but I just heard that Boris Nemtsov was arrested today in St Petersburg during a demonstration.
He was. In Omsk, several comsomol youths have been detained, as well as anyone participating in free propaganda (that is, drawing graffiti, disseminating leaflets or whatnot without a state license).

But regions are not as bad as Moscow and Petersburg. In large cities, the crackdown on any opposition is very swift and violent.

Thanks Stas, that was interesting! Do you have an opinion on how difficult it is for the opposition (and I'm using that term loosely since there isn't a unified opposition) to receive permission to hold political rallies or demonstrations in connection with the upcoming elections?

Battlehymn Republic · Post by **Battlehymn Republic** » 2007-11-25 02:58pm

One wonders just what would happen if a coalition of libertarians, fascists, and communists won, anyways.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2007-11-25 03:11pm

Battlehymn Republic wrote:One wonders just what would happen if a coalition of libertarians, fascists, and communists won, anyways.

Lot's of in-fighting followed by one clear winner.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-11-25 07:08pm

sounds like what he said would happen when he was on Bill Maher...

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-11-25 07:24pm

fgalkin wrote:
Battlehymn Republic wrote:One wonders just what would happen if a coalition of libertarians, fascists, and communists won, anyways.
Lot's of in-fighting followed by one clear winner.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Another Stalin?

Sidewinder · Post by **Sidewinder** » 2007-11-25 08:58pm

Mange wrote:I haven't found it online yet, but I just heard that Boris Nemtsov was arrested today in St Petersburg during a demonstration. Way to go, Russia.

I found a relevant link when I looked up the Wikipedia article on Nemtsov.

Twitter wrote:Russian liberal opposition leader Nemtsov says he has been released after being detained during an unauthorized protest against Pres. Putin.

about 14 hours ago from web

Ritterin Sophia · Post by **Ritterin Sophia** » 2007-11-25 09:06pm

So if Kasparov and Co are fascist, libertarians, and war communists; what exactly does that make Putin?

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2007-11-25 09:32pm

Do you have an opinion on how difficult it is for the opposition (and I'm using that term loosely since there isn't a unified opposition) to receive permission to hold political rallies or demonstrations in connection with the upcoming elections?

Loyalty is of utmost importance. Those who are "legal" opposition (old "remainders" - SPS, CPRF) - can get a permission quite okay, but for those who are radical, getting permissions is a pain in the ass. For some it's just impossible, like anarchists, etc. They are frequently detained thus since they can't get those permissions.

One wonders just what would happen if a coalition of libertarians, fascists, and communists won, anyways.

It can't. Too much difference between them to provide any sort of unified electoral programme or instigate a popular revolt, and they are all rather fringe-walking radicals with marginal support in the society anyway.

what exactly does that make Putin?

Putin is an authoritarian. Not yet a full fascist, but his party is doing all the necessary steps for himself