From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng  (Original Message)    Sent: 6/24/2005 9:24 PM
21.6.2005 13:20 MSK
Putin has one thousand days left
Photo RTVI
Photo RTVI
RUSSIA, Moscow. As of June 20th, there are 1000 days remaining until the end of Vladimir Putin’s term as president. To mark the day, the Defense youth movement in Moscow and Saint Petersburg conducted protest actions against the government’s policies.

"In exactly 1000 days, the epoch of Vladimir Putin’s administration will end", stated Defense’s coordinator, Ilya Yashin in Moscow. "We declare that Defense will protect the Constitution and will try to prevent changes in the laws of the country that would allow Putin to run for a third term as president".

"We will do everything possible to prevent the realization of the Successor –2008 project. We need democratic elections and alliances, not a designated successor", emphasized another coordinator of Defense, Dmitry Kokorev.

The protest action took place in Ilinsky Square, opposite the President's administration building. 25 Defense activists displayed banners and posters with slogans such as: "We need a President, not a successor", "Project" Putin: Counting Backwards".

At the conclusion of the protest, three Defense activists on skis and wearing Vladimir Putin masks, approached journalists holding posters with the slogans such as: "1000 days until the order is given". At this moment, a young person, Andrey Morozov, in a camouflage jacket, threw several tomatoes at the gathering. He was detained by the police and delivered to the Kitai-Gorod OVD. The Tver District Court in Moscow sentenced him to a day of arrest for petty hooliganism.

In St. Petersburg, Defense conducted its first action - "Placing Putin on Countdown". Defense representative Grigory Pashukevich spoke in the alley of Building 5 Baskova St., where the President once lived. "Exactly 1000 days remain until the bright day when State Security Agent Putin vacates the dishonestly occupied post of the President of Russia. For five years, we have lived under the oppression of his tyranny. For five years, our country has been constructing a bloody police regime. We live not according to the law, but to the whim of Putin", he stated.

After Pashukevich spoke, representatives of Defense opened a "memorial board", on which was written: "On this street was raised the hooligan, fighter, State Security Agent and future President of the Russian Federation, V. Putin. His achievements: Chechnya, Kursk, the Northeast, Beslan, censorship, and a vertical line of authority"

During the protest, a symbolic counter was set up, which counted off the time remaining for Putin. Posters were hung out of the windows of the building reading: "We are counting down Putin " and "Putin has 1000 days remaining". 1000 leaves of a tear-off calendar were dropped out of windows of the second floor of the building. The protesters shouted slogans like: "Let’s throw off Putin’s crown – advance Defense" "Putin’s way is worn out – Defense. Together we succeed". Oppositional songs played from loudspeakers, according to a Defense press release.

Approximately 30 Defense activists took part in the demonstration. The press-service of Yabloka (Apple) St. Petersburg reported to a correspondent of PRIMA–News that the event passed quietly.

Translated by OM Kenney
PRMA-News Agency [2005-06-20-Rus-18]
http://www.prima-news.ru/eng/news/news/2005/6/21/32684.html