Decembrist Hangings And Riot Police

Upon the ascension of Nicholas I to the throne in 1825, some 3,000 progressive Army officers, soldiers and citizens demonstrated in favor of a constitution and a representative form of government. But Nicholas was one of Russia's most reactionary Tsars. At the cost of over 1,000 casualties, he brutally suppressed the so-called Decembrist uprising and subsequently showed no mercy to the participants. Many were exiled to Siberia, and the five major leaders were sentenced to death by hanging. However, due to the inexperience of the executioner, the ropes snapped before the men expired.  One of the leaders, whose leg was broken by the fall, cried out, "They can't even hang a man properly in Russia!" Nonetheless, this lack of executional skill meant reprieve, the roulette wheel was spinning in their favor after all, because ancient tradition held that a victim of a botched execution was to be released. Or no? Nicholas overruled tradition, ordered new ropes, and the prisoners were hanged again, this time successfully. 

Meanwhile, the man next to me in the crowd nods towards the equestrian statue of Nicholas I in St Isaac's Square and says to his companion, "It's quite symbolic that these things are taking place under his gaze. He would have approved of such tactics." It's March 5, the day after the elections, and not only have crowds of people gathered in the square, but so have scads of OMON (the riot police) and suddenly, in a departure from past protests, the latter has become aggressive.

OMON gathers in St Isaac's Square with the statue of Nicholas I in the background.

It all started like the usual demonstrations of the past months. At 6 pm, people gathered on the square, chanted the favorite anti-Putin slogans ("Putin is a Crook" and "Russia without Putin"), and as usual, folks remained relatively civilized and well-behaved. 

A number of people wear masks, symbolizing their voicelessness and votelessness.

"What, HE'S hanging around again?  Is Russia really not tired of tsars, general secretaries, and presidents that don't leave?  We don't believe it!"

"Stable Evil Has Become Legitimate

I'm Crying Without Tears

5 March 2012"

Police officer addresses the crowd.

At about 7:00 p.m., a police officer with a handheld megaphone starts pronouncing instructions to the crowd that by this time has grown to about 3,000 people scattered in clusters around the square. Given the level of anti-Putin shouting combined with the bad quality of the megaphone, it's impossible to understand what he is saying even though he's only a few feet away. Suddenly, huge numbers of OMON start charging and with amazing rapidity, surround groups of people within their riot police grip. 

OMON forces charge while protestors and bystanders watch from in front of the Hotel Astoria

In a repeating process, two OMON grab one suspect out of the encircled crowd and haul him (or her) off to a waiting bus. They start with the most suspicious folk first -- i.e., those guys with the masks over their mouth are gone immediately. And then they continue on to the less overtly subversive. When they pull me out, I say in my best New York English, "I'm sorry, may I leave? I'm here here by accident."  They immediately let me walk and proceed to the next victim. 

The riot police haul off a victim.

Another person is hauled off, while yet more riot police await their deployment. 

OMON and girl with a bouquet of roses and baby's breath -- and a mask.

Thanks to cell phones, word of what's happening at the demo spreads rapidly.

As I retreat to what appears to be a less OMON-infected part of the square, I get a message from Red Kirill. He's been arrested. Well, that's not surprising given the circumstances. If anyone would seem suspicious to riot police, that would be Red Kirill in his alternative red clothing and dreadlocks.  I quickly call Lawyer Misha, who is not concerned. "Don't worry, " he says, "It's the usual thing. They'll let him out tomorrow. We all still be able to go to the dacha on Wednesday." Meanwhile OMON forces keep hauling people off to buses that have been parked around the square.

The crowd hovers, waits, watches, and from time to time chants "This is our city," "Police, stand with the people, don't serve a monster!" and "Shame! Shame! Shame!" 

Riot police on the square as it gets colder and darker.

Eventually OMON has hauled off all possible instigators (hundreds of people were detained), and it's getting chilly, so due to a combination of force and attrition, the demonstration dwindles to a close around 9 p.m.


But what about Red Kirill? I receive a text message around 10 pm: he is being held over night.  The next day, another message arrives, "They're taking me to court." And since then, no news. Well, surely he won't be sentenced to hanging or exiled to Siberia, but does this brusque crackdown after the elections imply an end to any pretense at liberalism, that there will be "no more Mr. Nice Putin?"  


PS:  Russophile Nikita explains, "Of course they're cracking down now. They let everyone demonstrate before the elections, but now there is no point. The country has shown that it is strongly behind Putin. So these protestors need to shut up, quit whining, and get with the program."