Current Event four

Just a few days ago thousands of Muscovites gathered around the 10-mile Garden Ring Road at the center of the capital and held hands in a ring for about an hour in protest of what they say is the corrupt and autocratic rule of the man who may win Russia's upcoming presidential election, Vladimir Putin. The chain of about 35,000 people was organized through the Internet and another one is schedualed on the day after the the election supposedly to protest the victory that Putin will acheive. Although the protest have been large in number and plublicity Putin has largly ignored the protestors. The protestors have also started an anybody but Putin campaign but the only problem is that there is no figure head of this movement, no other electable person who wants to run aganist Putin. Many are afraid that if Puttin is elected this could cause an upraise of violence that could last months if not years. Although Putins favorablility was around 50 percent it has recently gone up to 60 percent, because of Putin's new campaign strategy to appeal to voters outside of the major cities. Protestors say that these people will blindly flock to Putin even if they are disatisfied with his rule, because they are afraid of change. The future of Russia hangs in the balance of this next election and it is up to the voters to choose who will lead Russia into that future.

Links:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204653604577246823986696422.html