Kasparov arrested
14 April 2007 12:31 PM CET | Last modified: 9:54 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Politics
Garry Kasparov was arrested today by the Russian police at a banned anti-Kremlin rally in central Moscow. It seems the police didn’t wait as long as they did last month in St Petersburg and wouldn’t let Kasparov and his Other Russia spread the anti-Putin word. The Russian President didn’t take half measures and threw in more than 9,000 police men to prevent the rally going ahead. Kasparov wanted to join the rally but was arrested together with other activists as well as journalists.
Tomorrow another United Civil Front rally is planned, in St Petersburg. Whether Kasparov can be there or not, the many detentions by Putin today will strengthen the ex-world champion and his political colleagues in their claim that the first man of Russia continues to restrict the democratical values. For more information on Kasparov and his role in Russia’s political arena we refer to our lengthy article of last month.
Update 16:24 CET: Kasparov’s release has now been mentioned. It’s interesting to see how the media function. FOCUS Information Agency writes “Kasparov was released several hours after he was arrested by riot police during a banned protest in Moscow, AFP reports, citing Interfax.”
Update 21:05 CET: Kasparov is still being detained. He’s being accused of shouting “anti government yells”. He will probably be held in detention on remand for a while. The Dutch news had an item on it. It can be viewed here and begins after 9 minutes and 44 seconds. You can see Kasparov being put in a van, from where he shouts at the gathered press: “Tell your leaders that this regime is criminal, is a police state. They arrest people everywhere, because they’re scared stiff that we…” after which the cameraman is pushed away.
Update 23:44 CET: Close to midnight Moscow time, Kasparov was released from the courthouse.
Update April 15, 09:48 CET: Here is a detailed report on the riot and the detentions. Kasparov.ru reports that Kasparov had to pay a fine of a thousand roubles (about 29 euros).
Arresting someone BEFORE they do something is hardly the mark of a democratic country is it?
At least not on his birthday
didnt garry have on friday birthday ? anway not good democratic behavior mr putin !
JA,heel fout iemand arrestereen voor ie iets doet. Gebeurt ook in Amerika en Ned. Rond de periode van het huwelijk van maxima en willem-alexander stond iemand - het zal wel koninginnedag zijn geweest ofzo - met een spandoek langs de kant tegen maxima’s vader. Hij werd gearresteerd> Endit soort dingen gebeuren vaker, ook in NL. Alleen als het in Nederland gebeurt presenteren de mainstream media het als normaal, en als zoiets in andere landen gebeurt als teken van dictatuur.
Zo werken die dingen.
meer info op http://www.kasparov.ru (wel in het Russisch)
I trust that Mr. Kasparov will fix russian politics, like he fixed chess politics!
Kom op Renzo, een beetje serieus! Er is een groot verschil tussen een democratie met schoonheidsfouten (zoals Nederland, de VS en eigenlijk iedere democratie) en een dictatuur als het huidige Rusland, waar Kasparov terecht tegen strijdt.
ardjan,
Ik heb ook niet gezegd dat het hetzelfde is.
Ik wil alleen relativeren at alles hier zo goed is. Bovendien met al die terrorismemaatregelen en pogingen omde vrijheid van meningsuiting in te perken, vind ik het hier ook niet zo fris!
To speak of democracy and Russia in the same breath is absurd. Putin and his cronies are nothing more than another muderous politburo run by a former the former head thug of the KGB. The murders of LItvinenko and Politkovskaya are proof that Putin and his cronies are not afraid to play hardball when it comes to eliminating their detractors. Though I admire Kasparov’s courage, he should proceed with great circumspection.
Renzo, je relativeert ten eerste een bewering (’dat alles hier zo goed is’) die niemand gedaan heeft. De verslaggeving is, ook op ChessVibes, gezien de krankzinnige omstandigheden juist bijzonder neutraal.
Ten tweede zijn vergelijkingen tussen de Nederlandse democratie en de Russische echt te onzinnig voor woorden. Ook al waren er tijdens het huwelijk van Maxima niet een enkele domme betoger, maar honderd onschuldige passanten gearresteerd, dan nog zou dat op geen enkele manier te vergelijken zijn met de criminele en antidemocratische praktijken van Poetin en zijn trawanten. Kasparov heeft in de politiek volgens mij niet vaak gelijk, maar in dit geval heeft hij zo ontzettend gelijk dat iedere relativerende opmerking een beetje lachwekkend overkomt. groeten! Arne
Putin, from the viewpoint of someone sitting on his duff reading news reports, seems to be too powerful. He has the ability to shut down opposition when it gets to be too strong.
In addition to arrests, this regime has shown willingness to kill, should the need arise.
Other that what I read in chess and on BBC, I know little of what actually goes on in that country, or what the ordinary Russian feels/thinks about Putin’s leadership (although I understand there is some popularity for Putin because he has improved the finances).
Kasparov, be careful - this enemy isn’t just after your King.
Cit: (although I understand there is some popularity for Putin because he has improved the finances)
Putin is enormously popular in Russia. It is definitely not a widely hated dictatorship, but much closer to Germany in the 1930-s.
“Democracy” is only a label in Russia in order to keep others countries quiet. U need to know Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov to understand this Stalin-like of Putin…Dangerous but courageous “gambit” made by Kasparov. We are all with him (Gens Una Summus)
And good job Peter as usual