Russia bids to limit protest damage

2 Feb 2010, 11:48 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Russian officials have scrambled to contain the damage after thousands took part in the biggest anti-government protest since the start of the economic crisis.

Russian officials have scrambled to contain the damage after thousands of people took part in the country's biggest anti-government protest since the start of the economic crisis.

The governing United Russia party led by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin dispatched a delegation to Kaliningrad, a western exclave bordering the EU, where protesters called for economic and political change over the weekend.

"We have plans to go to Kaliningrad and get ourselves familiar with the situation on the spot ... and find out what was the basis of the demonstration," said Sergei Neverov, a senior United Russia official.

Speaking on the Ekho of Moscow radio, he said the delegation planned a series of meetings, including with local officials and prominent figures.

At least 10,000 people turned up for a demonstration in Kaliningrad on Saturday, according to organisers. Police put the turnout at 6,000.

The initial spark for the opposition rally was a local government decision to raise road tax but political demands were also raised at the rally, with some calling for Putin to step down.

The demonstration, which brought together opposition parties and groups of various hues, including communists and nationalists, appeared to have caught the government off guard.

The protest was ignored by the national television but received wide coverage in print media, which also suggested that Kaliningrad region governor Georgy Boos may find himself in hot water with the Kremlin.

"In Moscow, demonstrations are dispersed by OMON (anti-riot police) but we have not done it," Kommersant daily quoted Tuesday an unidentified official with the regional government as saying. "Is this the governor's fault?"

Political lethargy has become the norm in the country over the past years and the Kremlin has shown little tolerance for protests since the start of the crisis more than a year ago worrying that demonstrations could escalate into wider social unrest across Russia.

In late 2008, the authorities flew Moscow-based riot police across the country to disperse anti-government protests in the Pacific port of Vladivostok.

Figures released on Monday showed that the Russian economy contracted 7.9 per cent in 2009 in its worst performance for 15 years, as the economic crisis punished the country for failing to implement crucial reforms.

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