This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/06/russian-protesters-call-release-prisoners
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Russian protesters call for release of political prisoners | Russian protesters call for release of political prisoners |
| (4 months later) | |
| Up to 20,000 Russian opposition supporters have protested against the Kremlin, demanding the release of political prisoners. Protests exactly a year ago in the same square the day before Vladimir Putin's third presidential inauguration ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and police. | Up to 20,000 Russian opposition supporters have protested against the Kremlin, demanding the release of political prisoners. Protests exactly a year ago in the same square the day before Vladimir Putin's third presidential inauguration ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and police. |
| Participants in Monday's rally, which passed off peacefully amid heavy police cordons, called for the release of more than two dozen people facing criminal charges from last year's protest. | Participants in Monday's rally, which passed off peacefully amid heavy police cordons, called for the release of more than two dozen people facing criminal charges from last year's protest. |
| Since Putin returned to office, the authorities have taken legal action against opposition activists, and the Kremlin-controlled parliament has quickly approved a series of repressive bills that sharply increased fines for participation in unauthorised rallies and imposed new restrictions on civil society activists. | Since Putin returned to office, the authorities have taken legal action against opposition activists, and the Kremlin-controlled parliament has quickly approved a series of repressive bills that sharply increased fines for participation in unauthorised rallies and imposed new restrictions on civil society activists. |
| Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader facing trial on embezzlement charges he said were fabricated on Putin's orders, urged protesters to "throw [Putin] out of the Kremlin". His chant of "Russia will be free!" was repeated by the crowd. | Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader facing trial on embezzlement charges he said were fabricated on Putin's orders, urged protesters to "throw [Putin] out of the Kremlin". His chant of "Russia will be free!" was repeated by the crowd. |
| A scuffle erupted when a small group of pro-Putin activists shouted provocative slogans. Police escorted them away. | A scuffle erupted when a small group of pro-Putin activists shouted provocative slogans. Police escorted them away. |
| A few hours before the rally, a man helping build the stage was killed when sound equipment collapsed on him. Officials are investigating the incident. | A few hours before the rally, a man helping build the stage was killed when sound equipment collapsed on him. Officials are investigating the incident. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |