2020–2021 Khabarovsk Krai protests
2020–2021 Khabarovsk Krai protests | |||
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Date | 11 July 2020 – 23 January 2021 | ||
Location | Russia
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Caused by | Arrest of Sergei Furgal | ||
Goals |
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Methods | |||
Resulted in | Protester demands not met; protests merged into 2021 Russian protests | ||
Parties | |||
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Number | |||
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Protests began on 11 July 2020 in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, in support of the popular then-Governor, Sergei Furgal, after his arrest that was seen by many as politically motivated.[3][4][5][6][7] Similar protests in support of Furgal also took place in other mostly eastern cities, including Novosibirsk, Vladivostok and Omsk.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Background
In September 2018, Sergei Furgal won Khabarovsk Krai's gubernatorial election, beating the incumbent from the United Russia party in a landslide victory.[5] The Financial Times reported that "voters who flocked to Mr Furgal say they did so not for his or his party's distinct policies, but as a protest vote against the United Russia incumbent."[14]
In December 2018, President Putin changed the capital of the Far Eastern Federal District from Khabarovsk to Vladivostok.[15]
In September 2019, elections to the Legislative Duma of Khabarovsk Krai resulted in Furgal's party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), to win by a landslide and the defeat of the ruling United Russia party.[16]
On 9 July 2020, Furgal was arrested by the Investigative Committee of Russia and flown to Moscow on charges of involvement in the murders of several businessmen in 2004–2005.[17] He denied the allegations.[18] According to LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, he suggested Sergei Furgal temporarily resign his powers for the period of the investigation, to avoid a "hard scenario". According to him, Furgal was going to come to Moscow to resign a week before his arrest, however, because of the death of his brother, he remained in Khabarovsk.[19] In the case of a conviction, Zhirinovsky promised to seek a pardon for Furgal.[20]
Timeline
From 11 July 2020, protesters in Khabarovsk for months joined daily to support the now-fired governor Furgal and called for Putin to go.[21]
2020
July
On 11 July, 10 to 12 thousand people took part in a rally in Khabarovsk according to estimates by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[7][3] The newspaper Kommersant mentioned an estimate of 30-35 thousand people "according to various sources".[22] The protests are held conjointly with the internet campaign "I am/We are Sergei Furgal".[23]
On 12 July,
On 15 July, the federal authorities started to use the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic to discourage people from attending the rallies.[25]
On 18 July, the second major rally in Khabarovsk took place. The mayoral office gave an estimate of up to ten thousand protesters. Dvhab.ru estimated between 15 and 30 thousand participants. Kommersant estimated 50,000 participants. The police did not interfere and distributed face masks to the protesters. In Vladivostok, around 500–1,000 people took part in a rally according to Vl.ru. Two activists were arrested. In Komsomolsk-on-Amur, around 1,000 people partook to the rallies.[25]
On 20 July, Putin dismissed Sergei Furgal due to a "loss of confidence".
On 21 July, two regional lawmakers in Khabarovsk, Pyotr Yemelyanov and Aleksandr Kayan, opted to leave the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia in protest against Furgal's dismissal.[29]
On 25 July, the third major rally in Khabarovsk took place. The mayoral office gave an estimate of 6,500 protesters, while independent estimates gave higher figures, with some sources estimating it to have been the largest one so far or as large as the last rally. The coordinator of Alexei Navalny's headquarters in Khabarovsk, Alexei Vorsin, gave an estimate of 40,000 participants. The executive director of Open Russia, Andrei Pivovarov, gave an estimate of at least 50,000 participants. Kommersant gave an estimate of at least 50,000 participants. Protests in the city were held for the fifteenth day in a row.[30][31] DVhab estimated the number of participants to 15-20 thousand people.[32]
On 28 July, the first arrest was made in Khabarovsk. The owner of the "Furgalmobile" food truck was charged under Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation.[33]
August
On 1 August, the fourth major rally in Khabarovsk took place. Kommersant estimated the turnout to be no less than in the last two weeks, despite the heavy rain in the first half of the day, however the mayoral office gave an estimate 3,500 people. Other independent estimates ranged from 15 to 50 thousand people.
On 8 August, the fifth major rally in Khabarovsk took place. Witnesses and participants quoted by the press suggested that there were tens of thousands of participants, while the mayoral office gave an estimate of 2,800 protesters.[37]
On 15 August, the sixth major rally in Khabarovsk took place. City officials claimed a "significant decline" in turnout with ten times fewer protesters than in the first rally, One news outlet, Baikal 24, gave estimates of a turnout as large as previous rallies. Some protesters expressed solidarity with
On 22 August, the seventh major rally in Khabarovsk took place. The mayoral office gave an estimate of 1,500 protesters however eyewitnesses said there were significantly more.
On 29 August, the eighth major rally (the fiftieth rally overall) in Khabarovsk took place. The mayoral office gave an estimate of 1,200 protesters, while other estimates were higher. It was reported that there was a very small police presence with no police in front of the regional administration building where the protesters were standing.[42]
September
On 5 September, the ninth major rally in Khabarovsk took place. The website Dvhab.ru reported that there were approximately 5,000 participants according to eyewitnesses.
October
On 10 October, police broke up demonstrations in Khabarovsk and used force against some participants, with 25 being arrested. According to the mayoral office, there were around 500 participants in the initial rally, with opposition groups estimating around 1,000 participants. This was the first time the demonstrations were dispersed.[45]
November
On 23 November, 17 of the 35 deputies of the Khabarovsk City Duma, including the chairman, became independents after the deputies announced their resignation from their party,
December
On 12 December, the 23rd major rally and 155th rally overall in Khabarovsk took place, on Constitution Day. According to Deutsche Welle, over 100 people took part.[48]
2021
On 2 January 2021, the regional administration in Khabarovsk stated that the rallies had stopped.[49]
On 9 January 2021, over 100 people gathered at a demonstration.[50]
Legacy
The issue of Furgal was brought up as part of protestors' grievances during the
Response from government authorities to protests became more hardline following the Khabarovsk Krai protests. From 2 July 2021, local authorities introduced a ban on events with more than 10 people citing a spike in coronavirus cases.[55] In accordance with a decree of the regional government, as of 1 May 2022, "Hyde Parks" - places for assemblies without notifying the authorities - were moved from Komsomolskaya Square in Khabarovsk and the square in front of the Druzhba cinema to the DOOF park and square in front of the Rus KDD.
Despite the restrictions, on 5 June 2022, a motor rally in support of Sergei Furgal, agreed with the City Administration, was held with the participation of about 10 cars. On 9 July 2022, on the second anniversary of the arrest of Sergei Furgal, a rally in support of the ex-governor was held in front of the KDD "Rus", which was attended by more than a hundred people. The event was attended by Vasily Kharitonov, deputy of the Khabarovsk Municipal District Assembly of Deputies, as well as Mikhail Sidorov, deputy of the Khabarovsk City Duma. The Khabarovsk bard Andrei Botal sang between the speakers' speeches.
The
Public opinion
In a Levada Center poll carried out from 24 to 25 July 2020, 83% of Russian respondents knew or had heard about the protests, with 45% of them viewing the protests positively, 26% neutrally and 17% negatively.[56]
In a Levada Center poll carried out from 20 to 26 August 2020, 75% of Russian respondents knew or had heard about the protests, with 47% of them viewing the protests positively, 32% neutrally and 16% negatively. Of those who knew or had heard about the protests, when asked why they thought Furgal was arrested, 32% of them said that the federal government removes politicians that enjoy widespread support, 30% said that Furgal broke the law and that there were no hidden political motives and 15% said that he began to cut the incomes and privileges of officials. Of those who knew or had heard about the protests, when asked if they thought the authorities would make concessions to the protesters, 45% of them said no, 37% said partially and 4% said yes, including the release of Furgal.[57]
See also
Notes
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- ^ a b "В Хабаровске прошел самый массовый митинг в истории города — в защиту арестованного губернатора Сергея Фургала. Главное". meduza.io (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
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В Биробиджане вслед за Хабаровском и Владивостоком состоялась несанкционированная акция в поддержку арестованного губернатора Хабаровского края Сергея Фургала.
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