Police prevent political flash mob action in moscow

The flash mob-organized rally was supposed to be against neo-nazis; putin criticized the new law on demonstrations adopted in the first reading, which would ban almost all rallies

In spain, flash mobs may have helped get conservative government voted out of office. After the disinformation policy of the aznar government following the attacks of 11. On the saturday evening before the elections in march, rallies against the government and its iraq policy took place in front of the party buildings of the people’s party. Participants in spontaneous, unauthorized demonstrations were called together by word of mouth, SMS, chat and the internet (flash mobs against the spanish government).

A politically motivated flash mob also took place in moscow last weekend. Flash mobs are usually more or less successful dada actions, in which the participants, often unknown to each other, suddenly appear at a proposed time in one place, do some absurd things and then disappear again (a bit of fun is necessary). It is precisely this possibility of forming a swarm via the internet or cell phones, of quickly holding a meeting and, after a joint action, just as quickly disbanding again and disappearing into anonymity, that makes flash mobs interesting for unannounced political demonstrations that surprise the police.

Just this was to be used to bring together several hundred people at the grave of the unknown soldier in front of the kremlin at 1 p.M. On sunday for two minutes to deposit flowers and black swastikas. Two days before hitler’s birthday, the idea was to demonstrate against the activities of neo-nazis and attacks on foreigners, as andrei sharomov from the SLON party and co-organizer of the flash mob explains. They had also chosen the form of a flash mob in order not to have to obtain a permit:

We did not tell this to the police. They were just peaceful citizens going about their business, stopping only briefly to lay flowers.

There were also 150 participants, but it is possible that the police also noticed the plan. The entrances to the memorial were closed in the morning for construction work and secured with police barriers. Also the already for safety’s sake suggested plan B, to lay the flowers and swastikas at the nearby statue of marshal sukow, was thwarted by the police and fenced it off as well. In addition, police units were on the move in the area. In order to be surprising, flash mobs in the future would have to use other ways of communication than websites.

As the moscow times reports, the flash mobbers wandered around for a few minutes, not knowing what to do. Then some participants put their flowers and swastikas painted on paper in front of the fence of the sukow statue. A city employee, who was in the barrier, took the flowers and brought them to the statue, while throwing away the papers with swastikas.

Russia, of all countries, initiated a resolution against the glorification of the nazis in the UN commission on human rights, which was adopted last friday, while at the same time a harmless rally has been blocked at great expense

The law preventing demonstrations

Why the police wanted to prevent the action at all costs is not known. In addition to the opposition parties, russian president putin also criticized the new law on demonstrations, which was passed by a large majority in the first reading, only last week. It must not lead to restrictions of civil rights, in fact it would largely overrule the democratic right to rallies.

According to the law, demonstrations were forbidden in front of all government and official buildings, in front of embassies and schools, but also in front of sports stadiums, concert halls or hospitals, as well as on rough roads. Moreover, applications for permission to hold demonstrations had to be submitted at least 10 days in advance. A demonstration can also be refused if it does not comply with the "does not comply with the generally accepted moral standards" corresponds to.

Russia’s tactical moves on human rights

Another resolution, also adopted and supported by russia, calls on all states to act decisively against racial hatred, discrimination, intolerance and violence based on religious intolerance. Earlier, the special rapporteur presented his report on contemporary forms of racism, which focused on negative attitudes toward religions, especially islam, which is often wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism. Although russia has long been criticized for its actions in chechnya, it backed this resolution, unlike the EU and the united states, possibly because the EU’s draft resolution criticizing russia over the humanitarian situation in chechnya was rejected the previous thursday.

Also, the resolution initiated by russia itself, directed primarily against the current glorification of the waffen SS, but also in general against gatherings and organizations of members of the former waffen SS and other nazi supporters, could womogly serve as a diversionary manover from chechnya. The european countries, japan and the USA also voted against it, which astonished the russian aubenminister fedorov: "I do not understand how you can vote against a resolution that is directed against such a hateful phenomenon. Obviously they follow their own considerations. If this is so, then they should inform us about it." the irish ambassador to the UN said that they condemned all forms of intolerance, including neo-nazism, but they did not agree to the resolution because it was not directed against neo-nazism "in a global and balanced way" directs. The timing and motivation russia was questioned by her.

The resolution, which mainly expresses concern about the erection of monuments to the waffen SS, does not mention a specific country, but it is amed that it could be directed against latvia. A monument to the latvian legion, part of the waffen SS, was erected there last year. According to latvian politicians, this was formed not because of closeness to the nazis, but to fight against the soviets. Since the baltic countries separated from russia and joined NATO, there have been tensions between the countries.

Fedorov, on the other hand, explained that in a "series of states" groups of former SS officers can appear almost legally, although this represents a revision of the nurnberg criminal trials:

The commission reaffirmed that there is no place for former SS members, war criminals, xenophobia, racism, chauvinism and other extremist phenomena in the civilized world.