Tuesday June 12, 2012, 8:06 pm
I sympathize with the Russian people and their dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin. It wasn't so many years ago that the citizens of what was then part of the the Soviet Union wouldn't dare to raise their voices in protest. I'm glad they've come this far and hope their demonstrations make a difference!

Tuesday June 12, 2012, 8:10 pm
Thanks for the post.

Tuesday June 12, 2012, 8:16 pm

Power to the people, I wondered how long this would take. Putin riding bare chested is supposed make him a COOL guy? He's a tyrant, taking a page from Stalin. This time the people can still remember what things were like, their mad as hell and not going silently. Great, can Americans get a injection of that?

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 4:12 am
thank you for news

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 9:56 am
This is becoming interesting.

Putin is attempting to deal with protest in an old time Soviet way of doing things and the people aren't wearing it.

I think this is quietly one of the most important ongoing stories around at the moment., but it doesn't seem to be getting much press coverage.

So thanks for this.

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 10:34 am
protect life, prosecute those that seek to destroy our shared home and our fellow beings
life has value beyond measure
Peace and Love

*********** WALL OF SHAME ************
┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬
┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬
┬┴┬┴┬┴ The Wall ┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴
┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬
┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴
DEMAND FREEDOM FOR ALL THE WORLD!!!!

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 11:59 am
Well its about time:)

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 3:03 pm
You can blame the Russian people for putting Putin back in power - in fact they are to blame. In retail terms, 'you get what you pay for".
I do love an organized demonstration....Putin is in to stay. What he needs to address are more democratic reforms to gain the trust in the people that he is not Stalin. The right to demonstrate is basic democracy. If the man had any sense, he would acknowledge this protest, and begin listening to his people. The Czar and his family were murdered just under 100 years ago.

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 4:16 pm
Like every other despot and dictator in history once in they will do anything to stay in power. Killing them is usually the only way to deal with them.

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 5:43 pm
Thanks Cal...Putin has to go...

He is a relic of the past Soviet Union KGB mentality and truly believes he now has absolute power after his (possibly) rigged election. His new henchmen have raided the houses of leading anti-Putin activists and jailed others who stand against him...Recently I noted a woman interviewed stating that Putin really thinks he can oppress the opposition with old time violence and obviously considers us all stupid and still afraid of the KGB. We are not, he is the fool.

That woman impressed me and if that sums up the true feelings of the majority of young Russian people then all is not lost.

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 7:54 pm
Maybe this is the start of the "Russian Summer" revolution. Thanks Cal. Read and noted.

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 9:31 pm
thanks.

Friday June 15, 2012, 9:17 am
The Russians have made tremendous gains under Putin. Now a few malcontents are trying to throw it all away.

Idiots of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your peace and freedom!

Note that Putin did win the election easily. So these demonstrators are going against the will of the people. That's anti-democratic. Nonetheless, they WERE allowed to demonstrate.

If these people were in the U.S., they would be pepper-sprayed and imprisoned, or their demonstration would be confined to a "Free Speech Pen".

Russia is not making war on anybody, yet there are protests. The U.S. is making war on everybody, and there are no protests.

In Russia, the president is popular and people protest freely: We call that a "Tyranny". In the U.S., the politicians are hugely unpopular and people who protest are clubbed: We call that "Democracy and Freedom".

Friday June 15, 2012, 9:30 am
From the photographs that come with the article:

> After tolerating the biggest protests of his 12-year rule while seeking election, Putin has signaled a harsher approach to dissent since the start of his new term as president. On Monday, he said: "It is important to listen to each other and respect one another." But he issued a veiled warning to the demonstrators, adding: "For us everything that harms the country and divides society is unacceptable."

-- Photo 7, Putin at his desk

This seems like a reasonable standard to me. Why should Russians tolerate behavior that harms the country and divides the people? Harming the country is the U.S. aim. If Russians are serving foreign war interests, shouldn't they be held accountable?