Russia: White Ring Protest

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Protesters, wearing white ribbons to symbolize the peaceful nature of the protest, line Moscow’s Garden Ring road on February 26, 2012. © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
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Organizers hand out white ribbons to protesters encircling Moscow’s Garden Ring road. © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
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Protesters line the Garden Ring road, which is 10 miles in circumference. It took around 30,000 people for the chain to close full circle and form “the white ring.” © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
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A boy and his dog – both sporting white scarves – stand on the sidewalk next to Moscow’s Garden Ring road. © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
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Protesters in a car hold a sign reading, “Forgive me, Volodya [nickname for ‘Vladimir’], and I’ll forgive you.” February 26, the day of the “white ring,” happened to fall on the Russian Orthodox holiday of “Forgiveness Sunday” – the last Sunday before Lent when believers ask for forgiveness from each other and from God, so that they can start over with a clean slate. © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
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A man stands with a white toilet brush decorated with a white ribbon, as a reminder of Putin’s brutal early promises to “flush [terrorists] down the toilet,” while also asserting the peaceful character of the protests. © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
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Made to look like a license plate, this sticker uses the upcoming presidential election date, March 4, 2012, as a license number and plays with the phrase, “We’re giving Putin a ride,” which also reads as, “We’re not going to let Putin win.” © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
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A child stands in front of a group of soldiers watching the protest in central Moscow. © 2012 Tanya Lokshina/Human Rights Watch 308441
The last protest in Moscow before the March 4 presidential vote was held on February 26, 2012. The organizers urged all supporters of free and fair elections to wear white ribbons and form a chain along the sidewalks of the Garden Ring, the main road circling the city center. ‪Protesters had to organize carefully so that they did not form too big groups or spill out on the road, which may have interfered with public order and provided police with legitimate reasons to break up the event.‬ Within just 40 minutes, the chain actually closed full circle with 30,000 people demonstrating amazing solidarity and respect for the law. Some carried ribbons, others held on to huge white sheets, while owners brought their white pets and parents brought their kids along. Friendly drivers were honking non-stop, waving hands, sticking pieces of white cloth or simply white plastic bags from the windows. Even buses and trolleys were covered with posters and ribbons. That Sunday afternoon saw another Moscow, a place full of high spirits and offering hope to all those seeking a truly democratic election.
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