Amelie Herenstein
Agence France Presse
MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday marked its new annual day of national unity, established under strongman leader Vladimir Putin, with nationalist demonstrations that included rallies by far-right extremists. The November 4 Day of National Unity has been celebrated since 2005 when Russia’s then President Vladimir Putin created the holiday to replace the November 7 commemoration of the 1917 October Revolution.
Putin’s successor Dmitry Medvedev said the national day “gives us reason to believe that we are indeed a united people, a people capable of overcoming the biggest problems which have been our fate more than once.”
Russians were “a people that have defeated the enemy many times. A people that endured deprivation but stayed strong and courageous,” he said in a speech in the town of Suzdal east of Moscow carried on state television.
The biggest rally was by pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi which mustered 20,000 of its supporters by the river in central Moscow, according to police and the organization.
“November 4 is the day when Russia remembers its great history. We celebrate the day which allowed us to reach great victories together,” Nashi said in a statement.
But permission for a rally was also granted to the far-right Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI) who mustered 1,500 people for a so-called “Russian March” in southeast Moscow, an AFP correspondent reported.
“Glory to Russia!” chanted the participants as their raised their clenched fists. Most of whom were clad in back with many wearing anti-flu masks.
“We are Russian, God is with us,” read one slogan on a flag, while others brandished banners which were proclaiming “For the rule of law” and “Russia is for the Russian and Moscow for Muscovites.”
The DNPI told its supporters in a statement before the march to “be polite and respectful … Remember all Russians are brothers … Do not use gestures that could be used by the media to discredit the Russian March.”
By contrast to the permission given to the right-wing group, Moscow police last Saturday arrested 50 opposition protesters in the center of the Russian capital for staging an unsanctioned demonstration.
Other rallies were held by the Liberal Democratic Party of right-wing deputy parliament speaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky and the ruling United Russia party led by strongman Prime Minister Putin.
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