MOSCOW, May 1. /TASS/. Trade union activists and representatives of political parties will take part on Friday in the traditional rallies and marches to mark May Day.
"PEACE! LABOR! MAY!"
The most massive demonstration, organised by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FITUR) and the Moscow Federation of Trade Unions, will be held in Red Square. Head the Moscow unions Sergei Chernov said that 120,000 people will participate in the procession, which begins at 10:00 am, Moscow time from Vasilyevsky Spusk outside Red Square.
This year, says FITUR leader Mikhail Shmakov, it has been decided to revive some half-forgotten slogan of the May Day demonstrations - "Peace! Labour! May!". "It's fundamental values ··that are essential for everyone. The most important thing is the preservation of peace. The work is labour, everyone should be able to get a job," he said. Another motto of the action will be "Rising prices must be balanced by doubling of wages!"
Representatives of the all-Russian People’s Front (ONF) and United Russia party have said they intend to join the trade unions’ march. "We share the demands of FITUR," said vice speaker of the State Duma lower house of parliament, deputy secretary of the General Council of United Russia Andrei Isayev, urging "all party members and its supporters to take part in the trade union rallies." "May 1 is the day when the workers, regardless of their views take to the street to defend their rights and to declare their demands," he added.
In total, according to the FITUR head, trade union rallies on May 1 will be held in more than 600 cities and regional centres across the country, they will be attended by 2.5 million people.
PARTIES AT "MAY DAY" MEETINGS
On May Day, marches and rallies will be staged not only by United Russia, but also by other parties.
The Communist Party (CPRF) supporters will march from Kaluzhskaya Square to Teatralnaya Square where - at the traditional gathering place of the Communists at the Monument to Karl Marx - they will hold a meeting. This year, the Communist Party action will focus on solidarity against attempts to falsify history and revival of fascism and also in support of the people of Ukraine’s embattled south-eastern Donbass region.
The "May Day meetings" will also carry the traditional Communist slogans - for the nationalisation of industries, for "people’s control" over prices and utility tariffs. Head of the CPRF Moscow City Committee Valery Rashkin said that the party at its rally will present, in particular, a programme for the restoration of industry in large cities.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) will stage its May Day rally in Pushkin Square at noon. It will be held under the slogans "Do not interfere with work!", "Spring to the Russian house", "LDPR means peace!", Says the party’s official website.
The Communists of Russia will gather for a rally in Suvorov Square.
And the A Just Russia Party has decided to transfer its May Day demonstration from Moscow to St. Petersburg - to Nevsky Prospekt. The party’s press service said that the action would be held under the slogan "A working man in Russia should not be poor, and pensioners - paupers," "Incomes must grow! Tariff - freeze!" Members of A Just Russia demand higher salaries, pensions, social benefits, scholarships, as well as holding down utility tariffs and food prices.
SECURITY MEASURES
In connection with the festive events, a number of streets of the Russian capital on May 1 will be closed for passage. In particular, the city police told TASS that during the Red Square demonstration in the morning, traffic on Varvarka Street will be closed from the Moskvoretskaya Street side, Ilyinka Street to Red Square will also be closed.
"A total of more than 7,000 policemen, Interior Troops servicemen and vigilantes will ensure law and order and citizens’ safety in Moscow on May 1. People will be admitted to the events through the metal detector frames," said the police press service.