Day of Russia

[mendeleyev]

Those in Moscow visiting now would be wise to maintain a low profile over the next several days. Get out and enjoy the "Day of Russia" celebrations as many are scheduled all over Russia, but be aware that the government is cracking down and it is easy to be mistaken for an opposition rally member if you're at the wrong place at the wrong time. Stay close by your hostess and listen/obey her instincts. She knows the ins/outs much better than you.

The government has ordered 70,000 police and 9,000 Riot Troops to man Moscow streets today, 12 June. Police detention buses are everywhere and you don't want to be making an involuntary ride inside just because you got too close to the action.

Advice: don't wear white as it is the colour of protests around Russia since December. Today is not a good deal to carry a flag either, no matter if it is the date of Russian independence.

Last night Police stormed the homes of key opposition leaders and this morning have been rounding up leaders of the political opposition in advance of this afternoon's Day of Russia events.

Follow the news at the Mendeleyev Journal and in the forum culture/political pages.

[mendeleyev]

The Soviet Union was splitting apart and on 12 June 1990 the first Congress of Deputies adopted a declaration that the Russian Federation became was an independent sovereign republic. And now every year Russia celebrates this holiday just as Americans celebrate on the 4th of July.


In 1994 the first democratically elected Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, issued a decree marking 12 June as the annual day to celebrate the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia. It is typically a 3-day non-working holiday and this year the celebration takes place from this past Sunday the 10th to today, 12 June. The government declared Saturday 9 June to be a normal working day so that Monday the 11th could be a part of the three day "weekend."



 

For those interested in reading more about the holiday here are some fun links:
- http://russianreport.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/day-of-russia-12-june/

- http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/russia/russia-day

- http://www.calend.ru/holidays/0/0/54/

- http://dobrohot.gidbelgorod.ru/blog/view/11836




Russians at first didn't take to the new holiday but each year the interest in the meaning of the holiday has continued to grow.

[Shadow]

Advice: don't wear white as it is the colour of protests around Russia since December. Today is not a good deal to carry a flag either, no matter if it is the date of Russian independence.

 

[mendeleyev]

  Indeed.

I'd have been more impressed had you noted that Sergei Udaltsov, whose photo you posted, very often wears black as part of his trademark image as a political outsider. You knew that, right?

Of course the various parties are going to display their own flags. Duh. I don't think that any reader would have jumped to the conclusion that political parties would dump their logos and conform to white.

I don't expect visitors to Russia to have a complex grasp on every nuance so what I communicated was that for a FOREIGNER to wear white or carry a flag on this day in Moscow wasn't a good idea.

But just so we can be on the same page, let's go over the colour scheme of these protests:

1- Domestic accredited journalists must wear a yellow/orange top or vest with the Cyrillic lettering for "press" somewhere visible.

2- Foreign credentialed journalists must wear a blue top or vest with English lettering for "press" somewhere visible.






Bloggers/internet sites don't have to conform but many do as in some cases it affords some amount of protection against detention. Then again in some cases it invites detention.




In the photos above and below: Rally organizers Alyona Popova (2nd from left) and Mariya Perfileva (far right) wear white and carry white flowers. These photos are from earlier today.







From the very start of these protests in December, WHITE has been the identifying colour in these protests. It stands for clean (white symbolizing pure) elections and a fresh start. The WHITE ribbons that Mr. Putin joked were condoms was a way to identify oneself as a part of the movement.




WHITE has been the "logo" colour from the start of this movement.

  Yes, indeed.
                   

[mendeleyev]

Grateful is how I'd describe the mood in Moscow this evening. Today's demonstration finished without violence and by Noon the government had pulled back many of the riot troops that had visibly patrolled the streets during protests in May. Police say that only two-dozen protesters had been arrested in today's rally.

Foreign leaders had warned Mr. Putin that his heavy-handed tactics accomplish little but show that the former KGB spy is deeply worried by the protests that have challenged his once iron-clad authority. Grateful for those who spoke out.

We're grateful to you, President Putin, for listening. Hopefully this wasn't just a one-time event. You and your people have a lot to talk about.

[Shadow]

I know Mr Udaltsov is wearing black often, and I also know he is a convinced Stalinist, though he may have given that up by request of his current employers.

The thing is that as foreigner it is best not to be in or near a demonstration at all, regardless what you wear.