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2011 in Russia: Year in review New Year's preparations in Russia

Dec. 24 protests fulfill expectations

Thousands rally in Moscow to demand that the results of the 2011 State Duma elections be cancelled and Vladimir Churov, head of Central Election Commission, be dismissed.
By Gazeta Russa
The number of people who actually attended was up for debate.
Scroll down to see more

Kirill Rudenko

The number of people who actually attended was up for debate.
Others attributed the lack of violence to the fact that the protest area was extremely overcrowded and it was tremendously difficult to get through the crowd.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Others attributed the lack of violence to the fact that the protest area was extremely overcrowded and it was tremendously difficult to get through the crowd.
Some participants argued that the rally was so calm because the attendees were a mix of journalists, professors, students, musicians and businessmen.

Kirill Rudenko

Some participants argued that the rally was so calm because the attendees were a mix of journalists, professors, students, musicians and businessmen.
Poster (left): <i>PU, be aware, banderlogs are here"<br/>Poster (right): <i>We don't need a used president</i>

Ruslan Sukhushin

Poster (left): PU, be aware, banderlogs are here"
Poster (right): We don't need a used president
Asked about white ribbons Vladimir Putin compared them to condoms

Ruslan Sukhushin

Asked about white ribbons Vladimir Putin compared them to condoms
White ribbon is a symbol of Russian Protest Movement

RIA Novosti

White ribbon is a symbol of Russian Protest Movement
Yet despite the crowds, the demonstrations were peaceful, and there were no arrests.

RIA Novosti

Yet despite the crowds, the demonstrations were peaceful, and there were no arrests.
Former finance minister Alexei Kudrin addressed a mass demonstration against recent elections but called on participants to pursue their demands for political change in an organized way and steer well clear of "revolution."

Reuters / VostockPhoto

Former finance minister Alexei Kudrin addressed a mass demonstration against recent elections but called on participants to pursue their demands for political change in an organized way and steer well clear of "revolution."
Although the actual number of attendees may never be known, it was clear that these protests attracted more people than the previous ones on Dec. 5-7.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Although the actual number of attendees may never be known, it was clear that these protests attracted more people than the previous ones on Dec. 5-7.
Official figures numbered the protestors at 29,000 while organizers claimed that 120,000 came out on Academic Sakharov Boulevard.

Kirill Rudenko

Official figures numbered the protestors at 29,000 while organizers claimed that 120,000 came out on Academic Sakharov Boulevard.
Poster: <i>We didn't choose you</i>

Tatiana Shramchenko

Poster: We didn't choose you
Mouth sticker: <i>It's not possible to keep silence anymore.</i>

Ruslan Sukhushin

Mouth sticker: It's not possible to keep silence anymore.
The number of people who actually attended was up for debate.

RIA Novosti

The number of people who actually attended was up for debate.
More than 60,000 Internet users indicated an interest in participating in the civil action to support “fair elections.”

Ruslan Sukhushin

More than 60,000 Internet users indicated an interest in participating in the civil action to support “fair elections.”
The Dec. 24 demonstration on Academic Sakharov Boulevard in Moscow showed that the number of Russians interested in participating in civil society is growing.

Ruslan Sukhushin

The Dec. 24 demonstration on Academic Sakharov Boulevard in Moscow showed that the number of Russians interested in participating in civil society is growing.
Even though it was saturday, metro was as much overcrowded as on working days.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Even though it was saturday, metro was as much overcrowded as on working days.
Thousands rally in Moscow to demand that the results of the 2011 State Duma elections be cancelled and Vladimir Churov, head of Central Election Commission, be dismissed.

Itar Tass

Thousands rally in Moscow to demand that the results of the 2011 State Duma elections be cancelled and Vladimir Churov, head of Central Election Commission, be dismissed.
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December 26, 2011

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