Russian police blocked demonstrations in Novosibisrk and several other locations of Russia Sunday. The demonstrations had been organized to call for the Russian government to observe constitutional rights in Russia.
The “March for the Federalization of Siberia” was set to take place Sunday in Siberia and parts in the south of Russia, but was banned in advance by Russian authorities. Demands of the demonstrators included deomcratically elected officials and a more fair distribution of Siberian revenue.
Despite the ban, around a dozen activists picketed in Novosibirsk. Signs displayed by the activists read “Putin, stop stealing from Siberia!” and “Bring taxes back to Siberia, bring elections back!”
A primary complaint of the federalists is that although gubernatorial elections were reinstated in 2013, the Russian government maintains a “municipal filter” system, by which they can rule out candidates they do not want to run for office. Another main complaint regards revenue generated in Siberia, which is transferred to Moscow and does not return, allegedly.
At least nine pro-Siberia activists were detained. Six organizers were arrested in Novosibirsk and a neighboring region. Another organizer was arrested in Kuban in southern Russia. Two activists were detained at a pro-federalization picket in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains.
Four Novosibirsk organizers were held as part of a potential criminal case, and another two were detained on suspicition of stealing a mobil phone and held in custody during the protest day. The Kuban woman was detained for 14 days on charges of hooliganism after unknown men began arguing with her on the street. The Yekaterinburg activists were charged with resisting police, reportedly.
In Omsk, Siberia a pro-Siberian rally was barred from the central square by police, who claimed that the central square was already occupied by another rally purposing to gather aid for Eastern Ukraine.
Critics have pointed out that the same support for federalism banned by the Russian government in Siberia is supported by the Russian government in Eastern Ukraine. Pro-Siberia activists have said that the two movements are different in that the Siberian federalists do not want to separate–they want only more rights and economic freedoms for the regions.
By Day Blakely Donaldson