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Nationalists to join opposition rally Feb 4

The organizers estimated up to 50 thousand people will participate in the event

MOSCOW, January 27 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian nationalists who planned to hold a rally in Moscow on February 4 have revoked their bid and decided to join the opposition that will march in central Moscow and call for fair elections in Bolotnaya Square on the same day.

“Rally organizers agreed and, as far as I understand, the nationalists will march in the end of the column,” Moscow Deputy Mayor Alexander Gorbenko said on Thursday.

The organizers estimated up to 50 thousand people will participate in the event.

Gorbenko said the march will proceed from the building of the French embassy in Yakimanka Street to Bolotnaya Square where the first opposition rally was held in December.

However this time authorities will seal off the Luzhkov pedestrian bridge which they fear may collapse because of the big crowd on it.

“Naturally, this time we shall make conclusions and will not allow a big number of people to the bridge or we can block it altogether,” he said adding the crowd would come by another nearby bridge.

Gorbenko also said Moscow authorities suggested to hold the rally on Sunday instead of Saturday to avoid major transport problems. “The organizers actually met the request and decided not hold future rallies on Saturdays,” he said.