Large Rally Planned in Moscow's Sakharov Square in Support of Fair Elections

Protests are being held today in various regions of Russia in support of fair elections. Authorized rallies will take place in Moscow and Khabarovsk, while numerous solitary demonstrations are set to occur in several major cities. The focus is particularly on the rally in Moscow, which, according to various estimates, could see participation of up to 100,000 people.

Weeks ago, Russia's Central Election Commission refused to register a group of opposition candidates for the upcoming Moscow city duma elections on September 8, triggering an unprecedented wave of protests. In recent weeks, large-scale protests demanding the registration of independent candidates have taken place in Moscow, although these have ended with hundreds of arrests and the use of police brutality to disperse crowds.