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MOSCOW – Two worlds clashed in central Moscow on Sunday.
One was organized by the government of Vladimir Putin; the other was opposed to the Russian president.
Both filled the streets with young people, dancing in leotards or mounting angry street lamps.
All of this took place in the context of the 871 st anniversary of Moscow, a day when regional elections were held across the country, including for the mayor of the capital.
While Muscovites voted or wandered around the city, thousands of supporters of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny protested Unpopular plans of Putin to raise the age of retirement.
The result was weird and somewhat surreal. The children took their photos in addition to people in historical costumes, while columns of the riot police gathered a few meters away.
The artists evoked the main artery of Moscow, pedestrian for the festivities of the day, while the din of the crowd singing "Putin is a thief!" And "Down with the Tsar!
The clashes left some frustrated and confused. The accountant Svetlana, aged 36, who gave only her first name, was held between protesters and a group of dancers dressed in huge fluorescent flowers. "How am I supposed to enjoy this day with all these policemen?" Others found themselves attracted by the events by chance. Alexander, who only gave his name, was there with his two young sons, who were licking ice and climbing a bench. "There are a million things the government could have done to repair the economy, but they chose to punish people," he said.
Struck by Western sanctions on electoral interference and Moscow's role in the crises in Syria and Ukraine, the Russian economy is struggling. In recent years, the Kremlin has sought to improve the quality of life in Moscow in return for Putin's permission to run the country as he wishes.
Authorities in Moscow have spent more than $ 6 million on the birthday party this weekend, Russian media reported.
Demonstrations were held in 90 cities across the country, and Moscow's participation rate – estimated by the authorities at 2,000 – was by far the highest. As it is now common during anti-Putin rallies, the police reacted quickly, violently dispersing the crowds. Security forces were particularly severe in St. Petersburg, where they beat young people with batons, causing several people to lose consciousness.
An officer escorts a youth during a protest in St. Petersburg on September 9, 2018 against the government's plan to raise the retirement age. (Olga Maltseva / AFP / Getty Images) (OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP / Getty Images)
About 840 people were arrested in Russia, according to OVD-Info, a non-governmental rights monitoring group. Navalny, who was jailed last month for 30 days, said his arrest was intended to derail the protests.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a former Putin chief of staff, is expected to be re-elected on Sunday. However, at the request of the Russian authorities, Google removed video calls Navalny to protest against YouTube before the vote. Navalny employees said the technology giant had given in to censorship and acted illegally.
Natalia Abbakumova contributed to this report.
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