RUSSIAN OPPOSITION CONFERENCES FOILED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 004441 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM RS SUBJECT: RUSSIAN OPPOSITION CONFERENCES FOILED REF: MOSCOW 004418 MOSCOW 00004441 001.2 OF 002 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) Other Russia's effort to hold regional conferences in order to choose a unified candidate for the 2008 presidential election was foiled when venues they had booked were canceled or in some cases, participants were unable to enter the premises. End Summary. -------------- Regional Conferences -------------- ¶2. (U) In July, Other Russia announced it would hold regional conferences throughout the country in order to select a unified candidate to run for president in 2008. The movement had held to date 24 regional conferences at which former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, the United Civic Front's Garry Kasparov and ex-central banker Viktor Gerashchenko had received the most votes from delegates. This past weekend, additional conferences were planned in Moscow, Nizhniy Novgorod, Smolensk, Rostov-on-Don and Cheboksary. None of the conferences took place. In Rostov oblast, for example, Other Russia planned to hold its conference in the studio of a local artist in the town of Azov. Police at the site did not allow participants to get into the building. Instead, they forced them into mini buses and sent them back to Rostov. -------------- Moscow Venue Backs Out of Contract -------------- ¶3. (U) In Moscow, Other Russia planned to hold its conference at the "Sputnik" cinema. On August 23, the leaders of Other Russia signed a contract with the director of the cinema and paid the fees in advance. On September 7, the General Director of "Moskovskoye Kino," the organization that oversees Sputnik, informed Other Russia that the contract was no longer valid due to the fact that Other Russia "did not submit full information about its organization, nor did it coordinate the event with the local authorities." ¶4. (U) Other Russia viewed the letter as evidence they can use to sue Sputnik for canceling the contract since there is no legal requirement to get permission from the authorities for this type of indoor event. The organization apparently also realized that their first letter was a mistake and sent Other Russia a second letter apologizing for not being able to provide space for the group's meeting. They cited a technical emergency in the building as the reason. Copies of both letters were distributed at a press conference. ¶5. (U) Other Russia made another attempt to rent a hall, this time at the Izmaylovo Hotel. Again, they were denied. This time the refusal was made by telephone and similar reasons were cited. -------------- Hoping for Space for Party Congress -------------- ¶6. (U) Despite these set-backs, Other Russia leaders remain hopeful that their September 30 party congress will go forward. They have a contract with Izmaylovo that includes the rental of 400 rooms for participants and meeting space. The leaders hoped that the press conference and its ensuing publicity would have a positive effect and that space for their congress will remain available. -------------- Why Now? -------------- ¶7. (U) Eduard Limonov, the National Bolshevik leader, who participated in the press conference along with Kasparov, Denis Bilunov of United Civil Front and Lev Ponomarev, of "For Human Rights," said "in August, the authorities missed the possible implications of the conferences." It was also mentioned that the recent presidential decree announcing the date of the Duma elections might have precipitated events. "It suddenly dawned on the authorities that Other Russia might be a hindrance" to the smooth proceedings of the campaign, a participant noted. -------------- MOSCOW 00004441 002.2 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) It appears indeed as if the official start of the Duma election campaign has sparked a reaction from the authorities, who had let the previous 24 such events go uneventfully forward. In an earlier conversation with Embassy (reftel),Kasparov had seemed less concerned about official interference, and more focused on keeping his flailing movement relevant as the campaign got underway. Burns