Opposition protests at Putin during investor forum

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 9 (Reuters) - Opposition protesters marched through St Petersburg on Saturday to demonstrate against President Vladimir Putin while he was hosting a huge conference for investors in his home city.

Around 3,500 people marched peacefully through the historic city centre shouting "Shame on the Kremlin, shame on the authorities" and "Russia without Putin".

Some carried posters saying "Putin - Wanted" while others complained about the Kremlin's tight control of the airwaves, which keeps most opposition figures off television and radio shows.

"I'm furious with our state TV because it never gives any real information about what's going on in the country," said Larisa Andreyeva, a 61-year-old pensioner.

In sharp contrast to other opposition demonstrations in past months, which were broken up by baton-wielding riot police, Saturday's march was allowed by the authorities and police kept a low profile apart from a helicopter buzzing overhead.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09607827.htm

[David__77]

1. The press was biased under Yeltsin too.

But the western media never highlighted it because Yeltsin was favored by the west.