Chronicle of Protest. January 2005
January, 1
Baltic fleet sailors rush trains refusing to pay for tickets (Kaliningrad). A lot of military representative try to pass control posts without tickets ignoring the new law. So, Kaliningrad traffic department plans to enforce control groups on Baltiysk direction where the main military fleet base is situated.
January, 4
An illegal pensioners’ meeting against privileges abolition took place at 15-00 in Razvilka (Moscow region, Leninskiy district).
January, 5
Armed policemen in Kaliningrad on a car “Niva” stopped a bus of route #42 in which a conflict between a policeman and a conductor had taken place. The policeman had shown his certificate and refused to pay explaining that he had been going to his work and so had been fulfilling his duty. But according to law changes, policemen had lost their right for free transport from January, 1, 2005. Finally, the bus was stopped, the passengers were turned away, and the conductor was accused of regulations infringement. Near 10 episodes like that were registered in the city during 6 days after the New Year.
January, 9
A protest meeting took place at Sovetskaya square in Solnechnogorsk (Moscow region). Near 1200 persons took part in it. To attract the authorities’ attention the participants blocked Leningradskoe highway ignoring the OMON encirclement.
January, 9
A meeting took place in Ufa. Formally it was devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday. The participants protested against the authorities’ policy which abolished social guarantees. They demand pension increasing, stopping of housing fee increasing, preservation of free transport for pensioners.
January, 10
At 11-00 traffic on Leningradskoe highway was blocked by 300 pensioners near Butakovo station (Moscow region, Himki district). The people protested against housing fee increasing and abolishment of free transport for pensioners. In two hours with a half the police turned the people away from the highway. According to police, 150 persons took part in the meeting. According to journalists and participants, there were 300-700 persons. 12 persons were accused of regulations infringement.
January, 10
More than 300 pensioners blocked one of the heaviest roads in Samara protesting against free transport abolishment. In two hours the policemen managed to persuade the participants to go away. Samara pensioners receive additional money for transport, but it is enough to take a bus only 18 times a month.
January, 10
Thousands of people took place in a protest meeting against pensioners’ privileges abolishment in Almetievsk (Tatarstan). More than 5000 persons participated in this illegal meeting. Almetievsk citizens gathered at the central square and demanded resurrection of privileges and abolishment of 100% housing fee. Traffic was blocked during the meeting.
January, 10
An spontaneous pensioners’ meeting took place in metallurgist city Stariy Oskol (Belgorod region). City tram traffic was blocked for several minutes. After the head of the social department Kolesnikov had given his guarantees the participants let the trams go.
January, 11
After Moscow region and Samara the pensioners of Tolyatti organized a meeting against privileges abolishment. They blocked the central street – Karl Marx street, so it is difficult to reach the Tolyatti Mayor office. In such way the pensioners protest against the decision of the RF government on privileges abolishment. From January, 1, 2005 Tolyatti pensioners will receive additional money for transport – 108 roubles that covers taking a bus 18 times a month (6 roubles each).
January, 11
Altay pensioners joined the protests against privileges abolishment. On January, 10-11 near 300 pensioners went into streets of Barnaul protesting against executing the law of privileges abolishment. In the morning groups of people were observed in different areas of the city, but most of them gathered near the region administration office. The pensioners demanded preservation of transport privileges and abolishment of 100% housing fee.
January, 11
Pensioners and veterans walked along the streets of Sterlitamak (the 2nd city in Bashkiria) with mottos “Privileges abolishment is robbing of pensioners”. According to Bashkiria polce, 7000 persons took place in this action. They walked through city centre to Mayor office and made an application demanding privileges return and additional money increasing.
January, 11
Pensioners blocked tram railways in Arzamas and Dzerzhinsk cities (Nizhniy Novgorod region) protesting against law of privileges abolishment executing. More than 300 persons took part in the protest action in Dzerzhinsk. The same action (but with less participants) took place in Dzerzhinsk on January, 10.
January, 11
Pensioners protested against privileges abolishment in Nahodka (Primorie region).
January, 11
Near 500 pensioners gathered for a legal meeting near Tolyatti Mayor office and applied for a meeting with the mayor. After the mayor office representative had told them that Mr. Utkin had not been at his work, angry pensioners attacked the armed policemen guarding the office. According to “Kommersant” newspaper, several old ladies who had managed to get into the office saw the mayor assistant on social problems Nadezhda Hitun and fell to knees before her begging top return their privileges. The rest participants did not find the mayor and went to block the streets of the city singing revolutionary songs. The traffic was blocked for two hours.
January, 12
A meeting against privileges abolishment took place in Izhevsk. Hundreds of pensioners demanding privileges return walked towards the President palace. In spite of policemen occupying the central streets of Udmurtia capital from the early morning, the crowd succeeded to break the encirclement. The pensioners demanded responsibility for the president of the republic Alexander Volkov. The government house was also blocked. Several attempts to get inside were not successful. Nevertheless, the police had to enforce the encirclement with a platoon of OMON. They arrested one comrade insignificantly, but the pensioners surrounded the police car and began to knock, and in 20 minutes the fellow was free.
January, 12
Protests aganst privileges abolishment in Samara continue. 300-400 persons blocked Gagarina and Revolucionnaya streets. The main demands are on their mottos: “President Putin return privileges to people”, “Return our deposits”, “A miserable teacher is a shame of Russia”. Moreover, people express their dissatisfaction to deputies who had voted for the law of privileges abolisment: “ A shame to Duma deputies from the “Unite Russia” Vladimir Tarachev, Vasiliy Cheremushkin, Vladimir Mokriy, Viktor Kazakov, Alexander Belousov, Anatoliy Ivanov” and even to the president of RF: “Putin is an enemy worse than Hitler”.
January, 12
A hundred of pensioners gathered near Kursk region Duma to protest against privileges abolishment. Kursk pensioners don’t want to pay for transport and wish preservation of both “natural” privileges and additional money.
January, 12
An illegal piquet in the centre of Penza lasted more than 3 hours. Near 1000 persons took part in it. In the morning the participants came to the city Mayor office demanding a meeting with temporary head of the city administration Vladimir Anisimov. The demands were written on numerous slogans: “Authorities – don’t rob families!”, “Return our privileges”, “No increasing of housing fees”, “We are not slaves, slaves are not we”, “We are citizens with our vote and we are cattle without it”.
January, 12
In the morning 500 citizens (most of them pensioners) gathered near Podolsk city administration (Moscow region). They demanded returning of their privileges abolished from January, 1, 2005.
January, 13
The next piquet against privileges abilishment took place in Samara.
January, 13
From the beginning of the year tram and trolleybus conductors suffered more than 40 attacks from privileged passengers while demanding them pay for transport in Tula. Conductors and controllers, on the other hand, turn former privileged passengers showing their certificates as they used to away from trams, trolleybuses and buses. Many trams and trolleybuses in Tula stand at stations for a long time – conductors fight former privileged passengers who haven’t received their additional money. Additional money is 200-250 roubles, and a month ticket price increases to 500 roubles. Pensioners and schoolchildren have lost their free transport in Tula region.
January, 14
At midday near 1500 pensioners blocked the traffic at the central Krestovaya street (former Lenin avenue) in Rybinsk (Yaroslavl region), near the store. A legal meeting against privileges abolishment started at the nearest square at 12 o’clock. The participants demanded in their resolution resurrection of free transport for pensioners and labour veterans. Now they have to buy month tickets for 150 roubles. They also demanded retirement of president Vladimir Putin, governor Anatoly Lisicin and head of Rybinsk municipal district Evgeny Sdvizhkov.
January, 14
A group of Novosibirsk pensioners have sent their additional transport money (90 roubles) to the Duma chairman Boris Gryzlov. As the activists say, their aim is to put deputies’ attention to unfair, on the opinion of former privileged passengers, compensation.
January, 14
Penza authorities intended to held a constructive conversation with veterans’ communities representatives on all problems touching privileges abolishment. 1500 Penza citizens ready for a constructive dialogue gathered in the club and at the groung where dynamics were brought. At the same time 700-1000 veterans who couldn’t or didn’t want to take part in this meeting gathered at Lenin square in the city centre. Old people were more decisive and agressive here. The police prevented the most active old people from getting into the government house. The traffic was blocked for several hours at Kirov street (the main highway) and Gorky street.
January, 14
For three hours, from 15-00 to 18-00 the traffic was blocked at the 302nd kilometre of federal highway “Russia” Moscow – St. Peterburg in Vyshniy Volochek. Near 250 pensioners blocked the traffic in both directions. The participants demanded: “Return our privileges!”
January, 14
A large pensioners’ protest action against privileges abolishment took place in Orel. More than 500 persons blocked the tram railways at 11.00 in the city centre near General Ermolov square. The written slogans were: “Putinism is robbing and treason”, “Today – privileges, tomorrow – pensions. It is cannibalism”. Lots of people joined the meeting. Pensioners’ meetings took place on January, 11 in the Northern area of the city, but there were no large actions on that day. As the participants were explaining they learned about the protest action by word of mouth.
January, 15
Kazan pensioners who had lost their right for free transport blocked one of the central streets – Tatarstan street. More than 300 persons took part in an illegal meeting directly at the road. The participants demanded abolishing the law of compensations and free transport resurrection. Several accidents of fights between pensioners and drivers of commercial buses who had to turn back and change their routes occured from the beginning of the meeting.
January, 15
Pensioners in Himki (Moscow regions) are protesting against privileges abolishment again. This meeting is legal. But all the ways to Leningradskoe highway are blocked by OMON, Traffic police and firemen.
January, 15
An illegal pensioners’ meeting took place at 10.00 in Naberezhnie Chelny (Tatarstan) near the Mayor office. They protested against privileges abolishment and housing reforms. Near 1500 citizens took part in the actions. Having their demands not satisfacted they blocked roads in the city centre along Mir avenue.
January, 15
Pensioners’ meetings took place in four cities of Moscow region: Himki, Balashiha, Krasnogorsk and Troitsk. According to police data, more than 2000 persons participated in Himki action.
January, 15
Privileged passengers have blocked two avenues in St. Peterburg. Two meetings against privileges abolishment took place in the city. After the illegal meeting near St. Peterburg city administration the activists blocked Suvorov avenue and moved to Nevskiy avenue. Near 500 of them tried to block Nevskiy avenue near the metro station “Gostiniy Dvor”. The second action started at Moscow avenue, near the metro station “Victory Park” (“Park Pobedy”). Near 400 persons blocked Moscow avenue. During the meeting a car hurt a man. According to preliminary data, he has died. The driver continued moving and tried to escape.
January, 15
A large protest meeting against privileges abolishment took place at Oktyabrsky avenue in Pskov. More than 3000 persons took place in the meeting and following protest march along Oktyabrsky avenue. It is the largest social action in Pskov from 1991.
January, 16
Privileged passengers garthered at 12.00 at the central square of Stavropol. The people disagree with privileges abolishment. They blocked a part of Dzerzhinsky street near the central city square. Traffic was stopped at this street. The participants expect representatives of city and region authorities to come to them for they could apply with their demands.
January, 16
Activists in St. Peterburg have blocked Nevskiy avenue near the metro station “Gostiniy Dvor” again. They demand the Minister of Health and Social Development Mihail Zurabov come to them and refuse to set Nevskiy avenue free until he comes. Near 2000 persons took part in the meeting.
January, 16
According to Nizhniy Novgorod telegraph agency, pensioners have hold a protest action against law of privileges abolishment executing in Avtozavodsky area of Nizhniy Novgorod. Near 1000 participants have blocked the traffic near Avtozavodsky store for almost four hours.
January, 17
A protest action against housing fees increasing took place near Mayor office of Velikiy Novgorod (Great Novgorod). More than 350 persons, most of them old people, came to take part in it. The main protest meeting will take place on Sofiyskaya square on January, 19. Several thousands are expected to take part in it.
January, 17
Sakhalin pensioners organized piquets near Sakhalin region administration and Sakhalin region Duma. Pensioners are going to keep piquets near offices of legislative and executive authorities until January, 21.
January, 17
Pensioners blocked traffic in the centre of Perm. The piquet against privileges abolishment takes place at the crossing of Kuybyshev and Lenin streets putting obstacles in the way of buses, trolleybuses and trams. According to the city administration, the piquet is illegal. It was initiated by pensioners and regional representatives of some political parties. Its participants are going to keep actions in the streets during three days.
January, 17
Novosibirsk pensioners blocked the ways of trams ## 18 and 19 at the crossing of Svyazistov and Titov streets. According to witnesses, a passing-by foreign car touched by accident a woman who had run into the street. She was taken by ambulance with many fractures.
January, 17
More than 1000 persons demanding abrogating of privileges abolishment gathered at 10.00 at the square near Angarsk city administration. Traffic by Karl Marx and Lenin streets was blocked for an hour. Within two hours the participants began to leave the square.
January, 17
According to REGNUM correspondent, a large conflict between meeting participants and policemen took place in St. Peterburg, near Suvorov avenue, No. 54. The fight started after arrest of several participants (Yabloko party). The fight started between all the participants and policemen. It lasted not more than a minute, then the participants continued to move towards Nevskiy avenue. The police applies to them offering to abandon the action. Pensioners’ demonstration was blocked at 13-30. OMON has arrived.
January, 17
Kursk pensioners gathered early in the morning near the regional Duma. Having no result, 300 persons accompanied by police marched to the regional administration at Red square.
January, 17
Pensioners and other privileged passengers organized a meeting near Georgievsk district adminisration (Stavropol region). They demanded abrogating the law of privileges abolishment. There were near 500 participants. By 12-00 the meeting was over.
January, 18
Protest against privileges abolishment made Krasnodar tremble. More than 1500 persons took part in the action. They demanded immediate abrogating of “anti-people’s” desisions and resurrection of citizens’ rights by federal and local authorities. The temporary head of Krasnodar administration V. Evlapov was met at the meeting near the Mayor office by shouts: “A shame! A shame!” Nobody listened to his clumsy excuses and appleals to calm. The participants blocked Krasnaya (Red) street, stopped traffic in other city arterial roads. The slogans were: “Putin retire! No Tkachev!” Replying to sweet speeches of authorities representatives the people shouted: “Thieves! Return our privileges!” Sometimes they sang: “Raise the large country”. The protests are still not over.
January, 18
1000 elderly citizens gathered in Cherkessk near government house of Karachaevo-Cherkessia and demanded return of their privileges.
January, 18
The largest action of recent years takes place in Tver. More than 5000 take part in it. The people hold local authorities up to shame, they are not going to leave. The governor doesn’t come out. The pensioners blocked three central streets of the city and occupied the whole square near city administration. Tver avenue and tram ways are also blocked. In fact two main streets of Tver are blocked. The attempt to get into the house of city administration was frustrated by special forces in black uniform. The roads are still blocked. The Mayor Lebedev was met with shouts “A shame!” and ran away.
January, 18
Near 8000 persons gathered for a protest action in Tomsk. The piquet took place at Lenin square close to regional administration house. Time by time, the piquet turned into spontaneous meeting. The people divided: near 2000 of them blocked Lenin avenue, the others moved towards city administration house and tried to get through police cordons guarding the door. Near 3000 stayed near the city administration, the others moved to block streets. As a result the whole city centre was blocked by protesting people. After full blockade of the city centre the authorities representatives came to the people but their explanation that the reform had just started and its advantages had not still become apparent met shouts “Privileges!” and “Shame to authorities!” The people began to attack. The police succeeded to hold in check.
January, 18
A pensioners’ meeting against privileges abolishment took place near Kaluga regional administration. According to the radio “Moscow Echo”, more than 2000 persons took part in it and blocked the traffic at the square for an hour. It is the second meeting against the law of privileges abolishment in Kaluga for recent days.
January, 15-18
Every day from 10-00 to 14-00 citizens block one of the central roads in Kazan – Tatarstan street. 500 to 2000 persons take part in it. They demand return of all the social privileges. “The social chamber of citizens rights defending” was founded for protest actions co-ordination.
January, 19
A large pensioners’ protest action took place in Kaluga. More than 1000 persons took part in it. The action took place near the Legislative chamber. One of the main streets – Kirov street was blocked. Lenin street and Moskovskaya (Moscow) street were also blocked. The police paid no attention to illegal mass unrest and expressed its solidarity with protest demands: “Privileges to people – bureaucrats to prison!”, “Zurabov is a people’s enemy!”, “No robbing reforms!”
January, 19
More than 1500 persons take part in the piquet against privileges abolishment in Chita. A furious crowd has been standing close to regional administration for two hours already and demands the governor come out to them. The regional Duma chairman Anatoly Romanov was met by shouts: “Unite Russia” are traitors!” and “Bourgeois, return privileges!” The most active pensioners blocked Butin street. Not less than 10 trolleybuses are standing motionless, a huge traffic congestion has formed. A foreign car stuck in it and trying to turn around was almost turned over with its driver and passengers. Now almost all the participants have moved there. A white rope is stretched across the street. The entrance to the city administration is also blocked. People standing at freezing weather are singing dissonantly revolutionary songs and the hymn of the Soviet Union.
http://trudoros.narod.ru
Translation: Maria Donchenko
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