RUSSIA: Supporters of the Russian opposition leader and candidate for the Moscow mayor job Alexei Navalny gather in central Moscow .

Record ID: 214046

  • Title: RUSSIA: Supporters of the Russian opposition leader and candidate for the Moscow mayor job Alexei Navalny gather in central Moscow .
  • Date: 6th September 2013
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 6, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF SUPPORTERS OF MOSCOW MAYORAL CANDIDATE AND OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY ON STREET NAVALNY SUPPORTERS IN FRONT OF STAGE
  • Embargoed: 21st September 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEGAK4DQMGCXTMXGS4DRDT12Q2
  • Story Text: Thousands of muscovites gathered in central Moscow on Friday (September 6) to express their support for he opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is running for the Moscow mayor post against acting Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
    Navalny addressed his supporters who braved pouring rain and cold temperatures to come to the rally from the stage.
    "Thanks a lot, everything is holding on people like you all, who come on time, who come first and who are patiently standing under the rain. I hope that now you will not be just standing under the rain, but will enjoy great music, you are all great, I love you all, if I had long arms I would embrace you all, see you tonight again and thanks," said Navalny to the cheering crowd.
    The vote on September 8 is seen as a barometer of protest mood in Moscow and is expected to show whether the opposition is capable of mounting an electoral challenge.
    Six candidates are fighting for the right to control Russia's biggest and wealthiest city.
    Many political observers say the Kremlin wanted Navalny to run in Moscow because it expected him to be humiliated, and believed this would remove him as a political threat.
    But Navalny's campaign has had more impact than expected and the gamble is in danger of backfiring on the Kremlin, even though its candidate Sergei Sobyanin is still expected to win.
    "He is a simple person, I trust him, I want change, he is the only one who can bring changes. I am fed up with these thieves in power, with Putin," said Navalny supporter Tatyana.
    "I like how he carries out his campaign, how close he is to the people, I am very sympathetic of Alexei and I came from another city to support him today," Navalny supporter Artyom said.
    Navalny, who made his name as an anti-corruption campaigner, launched an aggressive election campaign criss-crossing Moscow every day and holding up to 10 meetings with voters daily. He has a five-year prison sentence hanging over him, pending an appeal. After a trial that he and his supporters say was politically motivated, Navalny was convicted in July of stealing timber from a state firm and sentenced to five years in prison. In a highly unusual ruling, a judge released him on bail the following day.
    A Moscow court rejected an attempt by Navalny to have Sobyanin disqualified on a technicality and an electoral official said Navalny himself might be thrown out for violating rules about the funding of campaign materials.
    The Kremlin denies manipulating elections and dismisses allegations by Navalny that the Moscow ballot will be rigged against him. It holds up the fact that he is running as evidence that it is an open race.
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