Russians Rally Against Terrorism Near Kremlin (but not With Kremlin Backing, No Sir)
The Kremlin wants to get in on the fun.
On Thursday in Moscow, hundreds came together for a rally called, “Together Against Terrorism.”
The rally comes two days after an explosion in the St. Petersburg metro by a suicide bomber killed 14 and less than two weeks after the anti-corruption protests that swept the country and saw hundreds arrested. And Russia’s State Duma decided on Thursday that it would launch an investigation into the allegations of corruption leveled against Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev that inspired the protests in the first place.
Some, then, might suspect that the rally against terrorism is a way to demonstrate that the state, too, can bring people to the streets, and that opposition supporters are not welcome by their fellow citizens in Russia at this time. This, after all, is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s time-tested tactics. And, certainly, it would have been understandable for the government or Kremlin to come forward and say it was organizing some sort of gathering to honor the victims of a tragic attack.
On Thursday in Moscow, hundreds came together for a rally called, “Together Against Terrorism.”
The rally comes two days after an explosion in the St. Petersburg metro by a suicide bomber killed 14 and less than two weeks after the anti-corruption protests that swept the country and saw hundreds arrested. And Russia’s State Duma decided on Thursday that it would launch an investigation into the allegations of corruption leveled against Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev that inspired the protests in the first place.
Some, then, might suspect that the rally against terrorism is a way to demonstrate that the state, too, can bring people to the streets, and that opposition supporters are not welcome by their fellow citizens in Russia at this time. This, after all, is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s time-tested tactics. And, certainly, it would have been understandable for the government or Kremlin to come forward and say it was organizing some sort of gathering to honor the victims of a tragic attack.
But the Kremlin says it has nothing to do with the rally. Per a Financial Times report, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said, “The Kremlin does not organize rallies. Moreover, they are not needed, because the consolidation of society and the expression of solidarity are evident.”
And so, on Thursday, Muscovites spontaneously gathered in line to rally. It looked like this:
In St. Petersburg, the governor did away with the charade and announced the regional rally himself.
Photo credit: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images
Emily Tamkin is a global affairs journalist and the author of The Influence of Soros and Bad Jews. Twitter: @emilyctamkin
More from Foreign Policy
Is Cold War Inevitable?
A new biography of George Kennan, the father of containment, raises questions about whether the old Cold War—and the emerging one with China—could have been avoided.
So You Want to Buy an Ambassadorship
The United States is the only Western government that routinely rewards mega-donors with top diplomatic posts.
Can China Pull Off Its Charm Offensive?
Why Beijing’s foreign-policy reset will—or won’t—work out.
Turkey’s Problem Isn’t Sweden. It’s the United States.
Erdogan has focused on Stockholm’s stance toward Kurdish exile groups, but Ankara’s real demand is the end of U.S. support for Kurds in Syria.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
