Rally kicks off
The opposition has launched its rally with the slogan "For Fair Elections" at Sakharov Avenue in central Moscow. Russian presses say the number of participants may exceed 100,000.
"Moskovsky Comsomolets" writes that the crowd may not fit in the frames of the metal fence that the government had foreseen. The rally participants are strictly checked by a metal detector for personal items. There are so many police officers that there are no lines at special passing points in the area.
People are coming to the rally with white balloons and ribbons,which are the symbol of the opposition's struggle.
The opposition has built a stage at the entrance to the avenue where it will play the songs by Victor Tsoy and the bands DDT and Ocean of Elza.
An enormous screen is located in the center of Sakharov Avenue so that those who haven't been able to attend the rally can watch it on television. Well-known journalist Leonid Parfyonov and Yuri Shevchuk will also be following up on the rally by watching the screen.
