2011–2013 Russian protests

• 1. Election Fraud Allegations

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  On the 4th of December 2011, polling districts across Russia closed after a legislative election that sparked immediate controversy. RIA Novosti reported more than 1,100 official irregularities nationwide within days of the vote. Members of A Just Russia, Yabloko and Communist parties claimed voters were shuttled between multiple stations to cast several ballots. The ruling United Russia party alleged opposition groups distributed leaflets at polling stations and ordered some voters to support the Communist party under threat of violence. Several reports described almost undetectable fraud where station chairmen swapped final protocols late at night when observers had left. The Central Electoral Commission issued a report on the 3rd of February 2012 stating it received 1,686 total complaints about irregularities. Only 195 of those cases, representing 11.5 percent, were upheld as true after investigation. A third of all complaints contained questions about unclear points in electoral law rather than actual falsification. On the 4th of February 2012 the Investigation Committee announced most videos showing falsifications originated from a single server in California. Despite these findings protests continued through March 2012 presidential elections.

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• 2. Mobilization And Key Figures

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  Alexei Navalny emerged as a central figure by branding Putin's United Russia party as the party of crooks and thieves on his LiveJournal blog. His agitation sparked initial mass mobilization through postings on social media platforms including Twitter. By the 10th of December 2011 over 30,000 people accepted Facebook invitations to attend a demonstration in Moscow. Boris Nemtsov joined the movement as an opposition leader and former deputy prime minister. He later apologized to several protest leaders he characterized negatively in leaked phone conversations. The movement coalesced around five main demands: freedom for political prisoners, annulment of election results, resignation of Vladimir Churov head of the election commission, registration of opposition parties, and new democratic legislation. Speakers at Bolotnaya Square included writer Boris Akunin who flew in from Paris and rapper Noize MC. Yevgenia Albats represented The New Times magazine while Grigory Yavlinsky spoke for Yabloko party. Mikhail Kasyanov appeared representing The Other Russia coalition. Oleg Orlov chaired Memorial civil rights society during these gatherings. The crowd included liberals anarchists communists nationalists and monarchists united only by opposition to Putin.

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• 3. State Response And Crackdown

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  Police arrested about 400 protesters on the 6th of May 2012 before Putin's inauguration including Alexei Navalny Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Udaltsov. Eighty demonstrators sustained injuries during clashes that marred the event. On the 7th of May at least 120 more protesters were arrested in Moscow alone. June 2012 saw laws enacted setting strict boundaries on protests with heavy penalties for unauthorized actions. Maximum penalties included fines of several thousand rubles or labor up to 200 hours. On the 11th of June police raided homes of prominent activists Kseniya Sobchak Alexei Navalny and Sergei Udaltsov seizing literature electronic data lists of supporters and funds. Activists were ordered to report to the Investigative Committee during scheduled protests. By January 2013 interviews revealed an atmosphere of intimidation among working class elements supporting the movement. Police detained over 100 young men of conscription age between 18 and 27 including 70 who had avoided military draft. The crackdown resulted in what became known as the Bolotnaya square case involving multiple arrests and prosecutions facing heavy fines under new legislation. Opposition Coordination Council elections held October 2012 registered nearly 98,000 verified voters with 82,000 casting ballots.

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• 4. Counter-Protests And Government Support

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  On the 4th of December 2011 Nashi youth organization brought 15,000 young people from over 20 regions to Moscow for pro-government rallies. They held meetings and concerts on Revolution Square and Manezhnaya Square expressing support for President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. A New York Times reporter noted many participants seemed forced to attend these events. On the 6th of December about 5,000 activists from Nashi and other Kremlin groups gathered on Manezhnaya Square and Triumfalnaya Square. Truckloads of soldiers and police along with water cannons were deployed ahead of expected anti-government protests. On the 23rd of February 2012 a massive pro-Putin march ended at Luzhniki Stadium where police estimated 130,000 attendees. Some claimed they were paid or told it was a folk festival while others said they attended voluntarily. Vladimir Putin addressed the crowd calling for unity against foreign interference comparing current politics to the First Fatherland War of 1812. On the 4th of February 2012 an Anti-Orange protest occurred on Poklonnaya Hill near World War II memorial complex. Police reported 138,000 to 150,000 peak attendance though opposition disputed figures as inflated. Heat guns tents with free hot tea and confectionery were provided despite minus 21 degree Celsius temperatures. Participants included state employees who allegedly faced dismissal threats if they did not attend.

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• 5. Media Coverage And Information Control

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  State TV channels generally ignored protests until the 10th of December when all main state-controlled stations began covering events professionally. Ren TV remained the only federal station mentioning protests extensively before that date. Western media covered protests starting the 5th of December with Fox News initially using footage from Athens riots showing Molotov cocktails before removing the report. Twitter users in Russia reported being overwhelmed by pro-government tweets timed to Bolotnaya Square related posts. Many appeared sent by hijacked computers though perpetrators remained unknown. The Wall Street Journal reported Federal Security Service requested VKontakte block opposition groups encouraging street trashing but declined due to few violent users. Sites like NTV refused broadcasting unless protests received coverage while Alexey Pivovarov later left NTV in 2013. On the 12th of July 2012 rights of BBC CNN and Bloomberg suspended in Moscow by Akado Telecom provider citing outdated licenses rather than protest links. Internet Research Agency emerged following Prisma system tracking social media activities resulting in increased tension or disorderly conduct. Journalist Andrew Osborn noted bad 3G signals in Bolotnaya Square asking if deliberately shut off during protests. The Guardian also reported mobile internet cut off in the square where demonstrations occurred.

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• 6. Demographic Shifts And Social Basis

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  The leading element consisted of young urban professionals well-educated successful working or middle-class people such as workers in social media. These groups benefited from substantial economic growth until the 2008 crisis but became alienated by increasing political corruption and income stagnation. Their numbers grew large in urban centers representing a challenge to continued authoritarian rule. According to The New York Times interviews with working class supporters revealed intimidation discouragement and alienation by January 2013. Nationalist elements played significant roles organizing and participating within the coalition. Mikhail Gorbachev called on Putin to resign during major December demonstrations criticizing human rights violations. Victor Shenderovich described protesters as humiliated rather than economically motivated coal miners who came out unpaid. Thomas L Friedman compared Russian movement humiliation to Arab Spring common ground shared globally. Economic growth inadvertently undermined autocratic rule by creating an urban professional class clamoring for new political rights. Vladimir Churov head of election commission resigned following pressure though official investigation found only minor fraud confirmed. Protesters included liberals anarchists communists nationalists monarchists united solely against Putin administration policies.

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