Russia’s protest movement gets organised

Russia’s amorphous protest movement tried to acquire more organised form, with the launch on the 18 January 2012 of the League of Voters, an umbrella group of popular intellectuals and celebrities who drew large crowds on to the streets in December 2011 and were bidding to use their star power to influence the 2012 presidential elections in Russia.

A separate organisation devoted to political action – the Civic Movement of Russia – has also been established by parliamentary deputy Ilya Ponomarev of the opposition party A Just Russia.

Despite these developments opposition, Mr Putin was almost certain to win a third term as President at the elections on 4 March 2012.

ESO: Background information: Russian legislative election, 2011 http://www.europeansources.info/record/russian-legislative-election-2011-2/

ESO: Background information: Infighting fails to quell Russia opposition http://www.europeansources.info/record/infighting-fails-to-quell-russia-opposition/

RIA Novosti, 18.1.12: Protesters Organize as Putin Hints at Dialogue http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20120118/170831132.html

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