Thousands March In Moscow To Protest Putin Inauguration

Moscow, May 7, IRNA -- Thousands of people gathered in downtown Moscow on Sunday to protest inauguration of Vladimir Putin due to be held tomorrow. “Putin is a thief!” chanted protesters at the beginning of the march,' according to RIA-Novosti. IRNA reporter in Moscow said that the march leads from near Gorky Park to a square a short walk from the Kremlin. A police helicopter hovered above marchers. Police said there were 8,000 people at the so-called March of Millions rally. March organizer Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, said in a Twitter post that there were “no less than 100,000” at the rally. Other opposition figures, including former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, estimated the protesters at 20,000. The march is to conclude with a rally towards Bolotnaya Square, the site of two previous mass opposition rallies last winter. Meanwhile, Putin supporters gathered across town at a separate rally on Sunday. Organizers said some 50,000 people were in attendance. Opposition figures accused the authorities of coercing government employees to attend previous pro-Putin rallies in recent months. Putin admitted earlier this year that the accusations could be true, but said the effect on crowd numbers should 'not be exaggerated.'/end