Let there be the light!
On Sunday, February 14, was held a flashmob in support of Alexei Navalny “Love is stronger than fear”, during which participants of the action went out into the squares and central streets of their cities with flashlights, candles, and many of them took photos. The announcement of the new protest action was made by the director of the FBK Ivan Zhdanov, on February 9, and the public didn’t immediately understand the plan of Navalny. Many considered the idea ineffective, and the Deputy Speaker of the State Parliament Pyotr Tolstoy, even said that the action with flashlights is comparable to the actions of “defectors-collaborators” during the siege of Leningrad. But, in the end, the flashmob took place, and according to the estimates of the Anti-Corruption Fund, tens of thousands came to the action. (*FBK performs the function of a foreign agent in Russia).
Also, on this day in Moscow, the action “chain of solidarity” in support of political prisoners was held. During action participants stood near the monument to Pushkin on the Old Arbat.
The reaction of authorities.
Despite the general fears, Valentine’s Day in Russia passed almost without detentions (According to the Department of Internal Affairs-Info, 12 people were detained at the actions on February 14).
“I repeat once again, no one blocked the movement, no one was particularly going to, so there was no direct violation. Maybe, there were some people with flashlights. Maybe, someone were in love. Someone may have protested against something. Someone just for the company, who didn’t understand why you need to light a flashlight. But most important is that they didn’t break the law. So everything was quiet. And why there were not three, but two people, i cant get you an answer.”—commented the secretary of the president Dmitry Peskov.
However, there were some incidents. So, it became known that students of the Bryansk State University, who live in a hostel, were forbidden to use flashlights and other types of lighting devices and recommended not to leave the hostel for exactly one day – February 14. And in Moscow, the attendant of the coronavirus hospital in the Krylatskoye Ice Palace Saidanvar Sulaimonov, was fired the next day for a photo with a flashlight from the “red zone”.
“I was told that everyone understands everything, and that I was fired,” — Sulaimonov told The Insider.
The results.
It’s difficult to judge the efficiency of actions with flashlights, moreover, opinions differ. Navalny’s supporters believe that the flashmob rallied the people and people stopped being afraid, while federal TV holds the view that all the protesters are victims of Western propaganda and they “rock the boat”. But one thing is certain, this is what peaceful protests should look like.
Without violence, radical appeals and provocations.
