Motorists rally in the centre of Moscow to protest against election violations
On Sunday, Russia’s opposition held a large-scale political rally to protest against the violations of the recent parliamentary elections. The White Ring unsanctioned motor rally gathered over 3,000 motorists who drove along the Sadovoye Koltso (Garden Ring). Organizers said it was the largest car rally in Russia’s history. Hundreds of cars with flying white ribbons and white balloons circled the centre of Moscow.
The White Ring motor rally was organized by the League of Voters created after the large-scale rally on December 24 protesting against rigged State Duma elections, the Kommersant business daily wrote. At present, the League is preparing for the protest that is to take place in Moscow on February 4. Thus, the White Ring action was the public structure’s first challenge. Motorists through social networks were invited to gather inside the Sadovoye Koltso on Sunday for a “peaceful civil protest” calling not to create difficulties for other participants of the road traffic.
Initially, organizers planned that the action should unite motorists into a heavy flow around the Sadovoye Koltso – one car per 5 meters of the road, the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily reported. Protesters should pin white ribbons or other white colour signs to their cars, which fostered the rally’s title – White Ring. In general, it can be said that organizers managed to do what they had planned. For instance, on the Sadovoye Koltso section near Krasnye Vorota metro station 154 cars flying white signs passed between 14:06 and 14:20 Moscow time. Starting from approximately 14:30 cars with white ribbons, balloons, white paper sheets pinned on wind and rear windows, white cloths and white colour plastic packages moved already as one continuous flow.