FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM  //  The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech.

Filed under

OMON

See all posts on posterous with this tag »
Apr 20 / 1:16pm

Riot police chase soap bubbles

by Kerkko Paananen

Riot police in Russia's city of St Petersburg broke on 18 April 2010 a spontaneous "flash mob" organised to celebrate spring by blowing thousands of soap bubbles. The event -- dubbed "Dream Flash aka Soapy St Pete" -- brought together around 500 youngsters carrying flashy scarves and umbrellas and blowing soap bubbles near the Gorkovskaya metro station.

The flash mob's organisers pointed out that the event was entirely apolitical. Any aggressive behaviour or attempts to use the event for political or other ends have nothing to do with the celebration, the event organisers stressed. Dream Flash promotes no political movement and does not lend support to any cause; the participants came just for a walk.

Riot police announced that the meeting was not sanctioned and called on the participants to disperse immediately. At the same time, a group of young men behaving aggressively, possibly Neo-Nazis, suddenly joined the marchers, began shouting some slogans, and throwing crackers at the crowd. Police then began dispersing people, arresting about a dozen.

Dream Flash is a flash mob organised by the Livejournal community ru_dreamflash in Moscow and St Petersburg. The Soap Bubble March usually takes place in the beginning of April. The event is all about celebrating spring and blowing soap bubbles. It is one of the most popular unofficial events organised in Moscow, and probably in Russia as a whole.

http://www.fontanka.ru/2010/04/18/032/

Loading mentions Retweet

Filed under // Dream Flash Flash Mob OMON Police Russia St Petersburg WTF

Comments (0)

Feb 2 / 2:31pm

Russian riot police blow the whistle

by Kerkko Paananen

A group of Russian riot police officers told the opposition New Times that they are being forced to make false arrests and that their fellow officers work as bodyguards for gangsters.

"One of us once protected a shwarma place outside a hotel in Moscow's Ismailov district. On Arbat, we guard the office of a Georgian mobster," one officer said. Commanders get their cut.

Officers were forced to arrest innocent people because of orders to make at least three detentions per shift. Otherwise they risked seeing their monthly salaries cut, the report said.

The police officers made their allegations public after they received no reaction to a letter sent to President Dmitry Medvedev. The letter was signed by "about a dozen" OMON officers.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/omon-officers-complain-of-corruption-in-their-ranks/398800.html

Loading mentions Retweet

Filed under // Corruption OMON Police Russia

Comments (0)