U.S. President George W. Bush
Photo: Reuters
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U.S. President Stood for Detained at Russia’s March of Dissent
U.S. President George W. Bush has expressed deep concern about the arrest of political activists during the March of Dissent in Russia. The president called on the Kremlin to release them as soon as possible.
Bush said he was deeply concerned about the arrest of big numbers of human right defenders and political leaders, who took part in the peaceful March of Dissent held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhni Novgorod and Nazran past weekend.
Even before the U.S. president, the leaders of France, Germany, European Union and European Commission condemned the crackdown of Russia’s authorities on the demonstrators that marched to show defiance to President Vladimir Putin before the State Duma elections.
Chess genius and leader of opposition United Civil Front Garry Kasparov was arrested in Moscow November 24, when marching along with other demonstrators under the slogan: “Russia Without Putin.”
On Monday, Moscow Meshchansky Court upheld the five-day sentence for Kasparov, who was deemed guilty of violating the laws of mass rallies and resisting police. His lawyers intend to go to Strasbourg Court to appeal the verdict.
St. Petersburg saw the March of Dissent Sunday, November 25. There, the activists chose the route that hadn’t been sanctioned by local authorities and the list of persons detained during the event sets forth dozens of names. Amid them are SPS Federal Political Council member Boris Nemtsov, SPS leader Nikita Belykh and chief of United Civil Front Olga Kurnosova.
www.kommersant.com
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