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Russian marchers defy Moscow ban Russian marchers defy Moscow ban
(about 4 hours later)
Hundreds of ultra-nationalists and far-right demonstrators are rallying in the Russian capital, Moscow, defying a ban on their march by the city's mayor. Ultra-nationalists and far-right demonstrators have rallied in the Russian capital, Moscow, defying a ban on their march by the city's mayor.
However, although organisers predicted a high turn-out, a strong police presence appears to have deterred many. Fewer than 2,000 protesters turned up - lower than expected - and dozens were arrested, local media reported.
Less than 2,000 are taking part in the "Russian march" while some 6,500 police officers have been deployed. Some carried religious icons, others gave Nazi-style salutes as they delivered a message of opposition to immigrants and immigrant workers.
Although from a range of groups, the marchers have a single message against immigration and immigrant workers. There was a huge police presence for the march on National Unity Day.
Several hundred police, some in riot gear, surrounded a central square near a Russian orthodox convent where demonstrators had gathered, but there have been no reports of fighting. 'Ideology of lies'
About a dozen protesters were reported to have been arrested during the rally. Protesters gathered in a central Moscow square, met by several hundred police officers, some in riot gear.
New public holiday One banner read: "Don't confuse German fascists with Russian patriots."
The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Moscow, said the march brought together a broad range of different groups, including moderate nationalists, the religious right and neo-Nazis. The protesters called for special privileges for ethnic Russians and more restrictions on immigrant workers.
Some marchers carried religious icons, others far-right political flags. There was a huge police presence at the Moscow protest
Mayor Yuri Luzhkov banned the rally in a bid to prevent any repeat of last year's demonstration when hundreds of ultra-nationalists shouted far-right slogans in the capital. One protest organiser, Alexander Belov, said there were demonstrations in more than 20 cities - including St Petersburg, Krasnodar in southern Russia and Novosibirsk in Siberia.
That march dominated a new 4 November public holiday, called The Day of People's Unity. Police in St Petersburg reportedly broke up a fight between right and left-wing protesters, detaining dozens.
It was created after the parliament scrapped the 7 November public holiday marking the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. A counter-protest in Moscow by left-wing demonstrators drew about 500 people carrying banners with slogans such as "Russian Anti-Fascist Front" and "I am Russian and therefore not a fascist."
The new holiday marks the end of Polish occupation in 1612. One left-wing protester, Svetlana Gannushkina, said: "We have to protest this ideology of lies and hate,"
Last year swastikas and Nazi salutes were seen among the crowd, who carried banners proclaiming the supremacy of the Russian nation. About 30 people were also arrested at a demonstration in Kiev, in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, when fighting broke out between pro-Russian and nationalist Ukraine demonstrators.
Several other Russian cities, including St Petersburg, have also announced they will not allow any ultra-nationalist marches on Saturday. The BBC's Steven Eke in Moscow says organised protests by far-right groups in Russia have become increasingly common in recent years.
The anti-immigration message is increasingly catching on in Russia, he says, and Russian society at large seems to be becoming increasingly intolerant of minorities.
Monitoring groups say 39 people have been killed and hundreds attacked so far this year in apparent hate crimes.
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov had banned the rally in the capital this year in a bid to prevent any repeat of last year's demonstration when hundreds of ultra-nationalists shouted far-right slogans.
That march dominated the new 4 November Public Unity holiday which replaced the 7 November public holiday marking the 1917 Bolshevik uprising.