Police officers break up the rally of anti-globalists staged in St. Petersburg against the G8 policy, July 15, 2006.
Photo: Mikhail Razuvaev
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Theater of Protest Operations
Along with the Group of Eight, St. Petersburg saw past weekend rallies of anti-globalists staged against this getting-together of major world powers. The enforcement bodies isolated key forces at Kirov Stadium, where the so-called anti-summit was held. In central St. Petersburg, the youngest and lefties of anti-globalists clashed with special services. The radical leaders were jailed in the end, while the National Bolsheviks failed to seize the historical Aurora Cruiser.
The communists were gathering near Octyabrsky Concert Hall from early Saturday, intending to march to the Pioneer Square and stage an authorized meeting and a concert there. Octyabrsky saw also a column of a few dozens of young lefties from Avant-Guarde of Red Youth (AKM), National Bolshevik Party and United Civil Front.
The demonstration stumbled across the enforcement officers, having hardly matched 100 meters from the assembly point. The clashes started when the lefties were crossing Nevsky Avenue near the Vosstanie (Uprising) Square. The event looked absolutely prestaged. “It appears, the maximum publicity was needed,” said one of the AKM leaders, "as if to show the antiglobalist disorders to entire world." The fight resulted in jailing 30 activists.
Chanting “Russia with no Putin,” the activists eventually reached the place of destination. But stripped off the young leaders, the rally turned into a classical meeting of communists with the usual criticism of replacing the benefits by cash payments and of the reform of housing and communal services.
The rallies continued Sunday. Front Aids anarchists endeavored to block the Nevsky Avenue in the morning but were prevented by enforcement officers, who jailed nearly all activists involved in the action. On the same day, the lefties closed ranks near Pribaltiiskaya Hotel and Moscow Hotel. The basic banner was: “Putin! Step Down Yourself,” and the rallies lasted long enough to attract attention of foreign reporters.
The scheduled climax of Sunday would have been the seizure of Aurora Cruiser by National Bolsheviks, who were resolved to repeat the well-featured action of 1997. But the police frustrated the attempt by strengthening the guard of the cruiser.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 17, 2006
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