YOUTHS DANCE, SEVEN PROTESTERS DETAINED AT VLADIVOSTOK

UNCLAS VLADIVOSTOK 000050 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV RS SUBJECT: YOUTHS DANCE, SEVEN PROTESTERS DETAINED AT VLADIVOSTOK DEMONSTRATIONS REF: VLADIVOSTOK 047 Summary: Vladivostok was again the site of anti-government demonstrations on April 11 and 12. The Vladivostok Union of Officers joined already-established demonstration leaders to voice their discontent on economic issues and military cutbacks. Yedinaya Rossiya sent its youth wing to stage a counter-demonstration in support of Kremlin policies. Local OMON detained seven members of the Community of Initiative Groups of Russia (TIGR). Round One: Military Officers and Dancing Students -------------- -------------- About 500 retired military officers took part in a demonstration in downtown Vladivostok April 11 to protest a proposed military downsizing and increasingly difficult economic conditions for active duty and retired military personnel (reftel). During the demonstration, organizers called for the dismissal of the Federal government and increased benefits for military members. Uniformed militia members hindered journalists and attempted to keep photographers from taking pictures, while others in plainclothes tried to switch off speakers' microphones. By the end, two participants received official warnings for "violation of public order" and participating in an unsanctioned public demonstration. At the same time, less than 100 meters away, about 30 representatives of Yedinaya Rossiya's youth wing Molodaya Gvardia organized a mini dance party adjacent to the city's World War II memorial. A DJ at that gathering, dubbed by organizers as "a meeting against extremism and in support of the federal government," piped dance music through a public address system and urged older people to leave the area. Round Two: TIGR and OMON -------------- The following day, around 200 TIGR members conducted their event at the same location. They had expected more participants, but numerous militiamen throughout the downtown area reportedly turned away motorists attempting to park. Participants held banners criticizing Primorye Governor Sergey Darkin, President Dmitriy Medvedev, and PM Vladimir Putin. Organizers released several dozen orange balloons into the air, saying it was to mark Space Day and the anniversary of Yuriy Gagarin's launch, though the color orange was generally taken to be a reference to Ukraine's Orange Revolution. The OMON troops and militiamen observing the demonstration then ordered participants to disperse and detained seven demonstrators. A few hours later, a Political FSN witnessed militiamen questioning a group of students carrying an orange balloon. Molodaya Gvardia's counter-demonstration that day attracted less than 100 supporters, who spoke out against xenophobia and criticized the TIGR protest as "extremist activity." One Molodaya Gvardia member who attempted to break banners and flags held by TIGR members was detained by the militia. One reporter at the scene noted in his coverage that the demonstrators, who were mostly students, showed little interest in the event and many were unaware of the meaning of the 'xenophobia' which they spent the day demonstrating against. Comment -------------- Authorities were well-prepared for the weekend's set of demonstrations with numerous militiamen stationed throughout the downtown area and police buses ready to haul away protesters. With the addition of disgruntled military officers joining the mix, the discontent is slowly spreading. However, since December none of the demonstrations have turned violent and fortunately authorities appear to have decided to not take a hard line stance for now. Molodaya Gvardia, the only group as yet to come out in support of the government, ended up taking a public relations hit, as having a dance party at the site of a memorial for war dead was considered by many to be inappropriate. KOVACSICS