'Russia, observe your constitution'

Representative of the Russian community in London and supporters have protested today in the British capital against the suppression of peaceful protests from Russia. This took place in front of the Russian consulate, attracting media attention.

The protesters held out banners, sang songs, drew a caricature of Putin, exhibited the Russian flags, gave interviews and spread leaflets, parading the kind of freedom they say lacks in today’s Russia. It took about an hour for two employees of the Russian consulate to come out, but there was no official exchange of statements.

Public figures, such as Russian dissidents Vladimir Bukovsky and Pavel Stroilov, as well as British MEP Gerard Batten (UKIP) came to show their support.

Here’s what the protesters state in their campaign hand-out:

“Today, 31 August 2010, the Russian government has again dispersed peaceful opposition rallies in a number of cities. The protesters were severely beaten: several dozens were arrested, including prominent opposition campaigners Boris Nemtsov, Ilya Yashin, Eduard Limonov, Sergei Udaltsov, Konstantin Kosyakin and others.

Vladimir Putin has taken personal responsibility for this cruel and unlawful suppression by publicly declaring yesterday that the protesters should ‘get a whack on the head’.

The Russian opposition holds rallies on the 31st day of each month to demand the government’s compliance with Article 31 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of assembly. The brutal suppression of those rallies has become traditional in today’s Russia. Putin’s government openly defies its own constitution and its obligations under the international human rights treaties.

It is time for the world community to raise its voice in support of brave Russian democrats and in condemnation of the Kremlin lawlessness. Today, we have come to the Russian embassy to demand:

                        RESPECT YOUR OWN CONSTITUTION.

We invite democrats of all political persuasions to joins us.”

See more images of the protest here

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.