Beheaded March of Objectors in Samara did not gather enough feet. Instead of declared 1,000 participants, not over 400 came.
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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Other Russia Leaders Not Let into Planes or Trains to Samara
Leaders of Other Russia coalition Garry Kasparov, Eduard Limonov, and 25 more oppositionists and journalists were detained in Sheremetievo-1 airport on Friday when trying to fly out to Samara to attend the March of Objectors there. Police said their tickets were “doubtful”. The oppositionists were let go only when they lost all chances to catch the next flight. Those few who managed to reach Samara were detained there. The march was not numerous, and passed without incidents, despite provocations.
Leaders of Other Russia coalition Garry Kasparov and Eduard Limonov arrived to Sheremetievo-1 airport on Friday morning, around 7:30 a.m., and tried to get registered for flight #813 to Samara. But, they were detained by transport police officers. The police had a list, and they checked the name of every passenger according to it. So, 27 passengers (“objectors” and journalists) were not allowed into the plane.
The documents’ check was over around 1 p.m., when there were no chances left for the oppositionists to buy tickets for the next flight to Samara at 1:35 p.m. Garry Kasparov said the authorities have found a new strategy against the rallies of protest: not to prohibit, but to behead.
The attempts of Other Russia activists to make it to Samara by train failed either. Police took them off trains at the railway station in Moscow, on the way, and even in Samara. However, even those who reached Samara were not sure to attend the March of Objectors. For instance, police detained Andrei Sidelnikov, leader of Pora! youth movement, on Friday morning. All those arrested were set free right after the march was over.
So, due to the preventive measures, only some 400 activists and about 150 journalists attended the March of Objectors in Samara.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 19, 2007
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