Vladimir Bukovsky and Gerard Batten (UKIP) to protest against pro-democracy rallies suppression in Russia

Tomorrow at 6 pm, several dozens of Russian emigrants and British campaigners are set to come to the Russian Embassy in London to support freedom of assembly and protest against the suppression of pro-democracy rallies in Russia.

The Russian opposition holds rallies across the country on the 31st day of each month to demand compliance with Article 31 of Russian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.

The London protesters include Russian dissident Vladimir Bukovsky and Member of European Parliament for London Gerard Batten (UKIP).

Vladimir Bukovsky said: "In 1965, my friends and I first went to Moscow streets under the banner Respect Your Own Constitution, only to be imprisoned for anti-Soviet propaganda. Today, 45 years later, our challenge and the regime’s response are essentially the same. It is hardly a big improvement that Russian demonstrators of today are being jailed for days rather than years. By definition, a government which imprisons its citizens for a demand to observe the law has no legitimacy whatsoever." 

"The experience of Russia’s descend into tyranny stands as a warning to every society which is too apathetic to defend its freedom against the corrupt elite. We should support those brave people who came out to the streets of Russian cities today to resist Putinism. Putin’s regime is a threat to the free world, and so is the Putinism in the Western political class. By protesting against suppression of freedom in Russia, we protest against what may become our own future", Batten opinionated.