The Yabloko party has notified the Moscow Mayor’s Office that they plan to hold an anti-war march of 30,000 people on March 12. The activists intend to walk from Strastnoy Boulevard to the intersection of Akademika Sakharov Avenue with the Garden Ring. At the same time, nationalist organizations are planning to hold a “March in Support of the Russian Army” with 25,000 supporters walking from the State Duma to Triumphalnaya Square. Both processions are scheduled for the same time – from two to seven in the evening. Experts believe that the mayor’s office will most likely refuse both groups.
Photo: Oleg Kharseev, Kommersant
Photo: Oleg Kharseev, Kommersant
Ideological opponents also filed applications for marches on the same day – March 1. Yabloko's leaders, including party chairman Nikolai Rybakov and others, aim to attract about 30,000 residents to participate in the procession from Strastnoy Boulevard to the intersection of Sakharov Avenue with the Garden Ring. The rally is anti-war, focusing on Muscovites' attitudes towards a special military operation. The main slogan is “No to war,” with demands for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the start of emergency peace talks through international mediation. The procession is planned for Saturday, March 12, from two to seven in the evening, with the party considering alternative times and venues. Yabloko emphasized they are ready to support only an agreed rally to ensure the participants' safety. Yabloko had previously applied for anti-war actions in other regions, but the picket was only held in Chelyabinsk.
At the same time, a group of Russian nationalists and patriotic organizations planned to hold a “March in Support of the Russian Army” with 25,000 participants. The activists planned the rally in advance by conducting a preliminary survey in social networks to determine the number of participants, slogans, and posters. Their route starts near the State Duma and ends at Triumfalnaya Square. The main slogan will be “the people with the army.” The organizers are determined to include flags of Russia, the DPR, the LPR, the banner of Victory, and Orthodox banners. The applicants are willing to adjust the date and place if the mayor’s office offers an alternative, and they do not consider the option of an unauthorized rally.
Oppositionists Mikhail Shneider and Aleksey Minyailo, along with PARNAS, the Solidarity, and Decommunization movements, had planned an “anti-war march” in Moscow for March 5 with up to 150,000 participants. However, they were denied due to the “epidemiological situation” and anti-covid restrictions. Despite this, the organizers hope to reapply for March 13 or 19. The opposition believes that the new recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor will support their coordination efforts. On March 1, the agency updated the list of recommendations for the omicron strain, stating that a mask regime in enclosed spaces and enhanced disinfection are recommended, but nothing was mentioned about open-air public events.
The youth movement “Spring” declared a new protest for the first weekend of March. On February 27, Vesna urged supporters to demonstrate in the capital. Most of the detentions in Moscow with flowers and anti-war symbols took place at the locations mentioned in Vesna's announcements. OVD-Info reported on “daily anti-war protests in Russia” from February 24 to the present, with about 6.4 thousand people detained in 57 cities, including 3,158 in Moscow and 2,098 in St. Petersburg. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation does not provide statistics on detentions but the Moscow Department of Internal Affairs reported 600 detainees on February 24.
The regional branches of the Liberal Democratic Party in Vladimir and Kursk announced rallies in support of the Russian armed forces on March 10, but the authorities refused due to epidemiological restrictions. Party spokesman Alexander Dupin stated that the Liberal Democratic Party is considering different options for holding such events and will inform the press about each of them.
The Department of Regional Security of the Moscow City Hall did not respond to a request from Kommersant regarding the prospects of agreeing on the rallies. Experts believe that the mayor’s office is likely to reject both applications. They suggested that the authorities may refuse to avoid an unpleasant situation, as they anticipate a small turnout for the liberal rally and high turnout for the military support rally. Political scientist Oleksiy Makarkin also mentioned that circumstances may change significantly before March 12.
Kira Heifetz, Maria Starikova, Elena Rozhkova
