ALERT if you're in Moscow now

[mendeleyev]

If you are in Moscow it is a tradition to go to Red Square on New Year's Eve and enjoy the concert and music and then watch the annual presidential greeting to the Russian people on the big screens around Red Square and nearby Revolution Plaza and Manezh Plaza.

TWO ALERTS:

1- A gathering of white ethnic Russians is being encouraged across Russian social media for this evening (31 December). Their goal is to show non-whites that Red Square is "Russian" and the heart of Russia. While there will be a large police presence we are recommending that if in Moscow and plan on being on Red Square you discuss and plan this carefully with those with you.

In 2010 there was a similar gathering and it got very, very ugly.


2- Russian social meeting sites are also abuzz with the possibility of another political protest on New Year's day on Red Square. Red Square is a popular destination for families who make it a tradition to walk around the Plazas and Kremlin walls on 1 January.

To our knowledge there have been no permits approved for a protest on 1 January and certainly not on Red Square. If you're present and sense a change in the environment it would be best to leave the area and instead enjoy other spots nearby.

As posted below, they're asking protesters to wear ribbons of white, black or yellow. For your own protection stay clear and move out of the area to a safer place if you see these groups.

Многотысячный митинг - это успех. Но успех нужно закреплять и развивать, если мы хотим заставить власть считаться с нами.
Как видно, пока она не торопится это делать.

Лучшим закреплением был бы Новый год на Красной площади.
Мы не хотим пить и ждать чуда, сидя у телевизора! Не хотим видеть их лживые откормленные лица, слышать очередные обращения и обещания!
Мы хотим выйти на улицу и вернуть себе город.
Хотим начать в Новом году новую, честную жизнь без жуликов и воров. С новой, легитимной властью, избранной на честных выборах.


Если много людей пожелает праздновать Новый год на Красной площади - как власть может в этом отказать?

Устроим флешмоб с белыми, черно-желто-белыми или другими ленточками. Без трибуны и флагов. Будем петь песни подходящего содержания, а кричать ли лозунги - будем смотреть по обстоятельствам.

Присоединяйтесь.

Господа и товарищи, которые отметились, что пойдут - вы хоть на страницах у себя это пропиарьте и пригласите друзей. А то ведь точно никого не соберём.

[mendeleyev]

Update:

Alert #1 may be false. It is perhaps a recirculation of a movement from last year.

Alert #2 is definitely a possibility but if you keep your wits about you and eyes open with a ready exit, go and have fun.

[Donna_Pedro]

1- A gathering of white ethnic Russians is being encouraged across Russian social media for this evening (31 December). Their goal is to show non-whites that Red Square is "Russian" and the heart of Russia. While there will be a large police presence we are recommending that if in Moscow and plan on being on Red Square you discuss and plan this carefully with those with you.

I have checked your info. The protests are not against "non-whites". We dont have enough blacks in Russia to protest against them. I believe this  is against Caucasian and Middle Asian Muslims, who has flooded Russia in the last 10 years and caused a lot of problems - behaving aggressively, refusing to assimilate, starting fights, being disrespectful to Russian people, etc. This is a big problem in Russia in general and in Moscow in particular, so yes, people do protest.

[mendeleyev]

Donna, I fully understand and agree that we don't have very many "blacks" in Russia.

It is a case of semantics but that is also why I didn't use the term black in my post and put non-whites in quotes. Caucasian in the Western world means "white" but in the Eastern world refers to people from a specific region who are not "black" as from Africa but generally are not totally white skinned or more correctly, not ethnic Russian.

My MIL likes to describe them as people with a "Mediterranean skin tone" although many Georgians and Armenians are as blond/blue as myself.

I believe this  is against Caucasian and Middle Asian Muslims.

Correct. But last year Georgians and Armenians were targeted as well and of course they generally are non-Muslim Caucasians. Most Georgians for example are part of the same world-wide Orthodox Church as are many Russians and Armenians. In fact, Armenia was the first state of officially adopt Christianity, in the year 306.

[JR]

 I believe this  is against Caucasian and Middle Asian Muslims, who has flooded Russia in the last 10 years and caused a lot of problems - behaving aggressively, refusing to assimilate, starting fights, being disrespectful to Russian people, etc.

Not limited to Moscow or Russia, all of Europe is being flooded.