RUSSIA: Ukrainian activists stage topless protest near Christ the Saviour cathedral in Moscow in support of Russian opposition ahead of major protest

Record ID: 511098

  • Title: RUSSIA: Ukrainian activists stage topless protest near Christ the Saviour cathedral in Moscow in support of Russian opposition ahead of major protest
  • Date: 10th December 2011
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 9, 2011) (REUTERS) THREE TOPLESS MEMBERS OF UKRAINIAN FEMEN MOVEMENT STANDING NEAR CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL PROTESTERS CHANTING 'GOD, KICK OUT THE TZAR!' HOLDING POSTERS READING 'GOD, CHASE AWAY (KICK OUT) THE TZAR!' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING AND BRANDISHING WHIPS CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING CATHEDRAL GUARD COMING TO PROTESTERS PEOPLE WATCHING GUARDS TRYING TO COVER PROTESTERS WITH COATS GUARDS HOLDING PROTESTERS DOWN ON GROUND, AS THEY CRY VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS ON GROUND CHANTING, GUARDS TRYING TO COVER THEM UP (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PROTESTER YAROSLAVA KOBA, SAYING "We support (the Russian opposition), you are great, you should go all the way, you will succeed as we did in Ukraine. You will do the same, and you will be able to resist!" CROWD NEAR CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL
  • Embargoed: 25th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Quirky,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADU1YGH9HGWTEO7ZTT3P0RXNSG
  • Story Text: Three members of Ukrainian feminist movement 'Femen' staged a topless protest near Russia's main cathedral on Friday (December 9) against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and in support of opposition.
    Scantily-clad girls wearing traditional Ukrainian garlands with crosses painted on their bare chests were falling on their knees near the cathedral entrance chanting 'God, kick out the Tsar!', paraphrasing the the 'God Save the Tsar' pre-revolutionary anthem of Russian Empire.
    The protest attracted the attention of church-goers and the guards of the cathedral, who tried to chase the protesters and cover them with their coats, as the girls kept chanting.
    We support (the Russian opposition), you are great, you should go all the way, you will succeed as we did in Ukraine. You will do the same, and you will be able to resist!" one of the protesters, Yaroslava Koba said as the guards were holding her down on the ground.
    The Femen activists, famous for their topless protests in defence of female rights, said they came to support thousands of Russians who were protesting in Moscow streets this week accusing the authorities of rigging parliamentary election on December 4.
    Over 45,000 people in Moscow alone have pledged on Facebook and the Russian site, VKontakte, to join fresh protests on Saturday (December 10) against the 12-year rule of Vladimir Putin and the victory of his United Russia party in Sunday's vote.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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