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And so we turn Eastwards…where according to Indymedia Russia (russia.indymedia.org) Anti-Fascist Action is the Spring Fashion for 2004. The absolute vacuum left by the non-event that was the Presidential Elections of March 14th has been filled with anti fascist actions. From St Petersburg to Siberia, Russians held marches, demos and pickets to voice their opposition to Russian Fascism. That phrase itself caused controversy when voiced in the Russian Parliament by Galina Starovoitovsa shortly before she was murdered. Other MPs said it was impossible to be both Russian and Fascist. Sadly this is not the case. In 1996 the mayor of Moscow expelled “People of Causasus National Appearance” from Moscow and surrounding region and people of ethnic minorities face daily persecution, discrimination and physical abuse across the former Soviet Lands.
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Also in Russia the campaigns against the new Law banning meetings continues. The first reading of the legislation passed through the Duma no problem. Strange voting patterns emerged as former KGB Generals voted against the repressive legislation stating it “would deprive citizens of their essential liberties” while former anarchists newly loyal to President Putin adopted a more disciplinarian approach calling for “law and order” concerns to override talk of liberty.
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In Moscow anti vivisection activists liberated 119 frogs from the labs in which they had been held for experimentation.They had been removed from cramped containers where they had been held surrounded by corpses of other reptiles. Experts said they were in a state of severe shock, exhibiting signs of stress and discomfort, they are now being well looked after and it is hoped the majority will make a full recovery.
April 25th saw the first ever Critical mass in Moscow.
At the appointed hour, 120-130 Moscow cyclists gathered in a main square before setting off. They covered 15 kilometers along Moscow Roads. The police didn’t intervene and the organisers consider it to have been a great step forward for the anti car movement in Russia. They elicited an overwhelmingly positive reaction from passers by and drivers, even when they filled the width of Moscow’s widest streets. All types of bicycle and cyclist could be seen, from the dedicated alpine cyclist to the pragmatic townie. Food was prepared by folks from the local “Food not Bombs” who also got active this month. St Petersburg is following suit, expecting their first Critical mass protest on the 15th of May. Moscow is planning its next one for the 12th june. More information on the Russian Indymedia site and on :  http://massa.tr.ru,.