Anti-corruption rallies show growth of protest activity in Southern Russia

In Makhachkala, the anti-corruption action is related to a general protest against the situation in the republic. This opinion was voiced by Magomed Magomedov, a political observer of the Dagestani newspaper "Chernovik" (Draft).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 26, many cities of Russia, including its southern regions, hosted actions of supporters of the oppositionist Alexei Navalny. Protesters demanded to investigate facts of corruption in the upper echelons of Russian power. The actions of Navalny’s supporters turned into mass detentions also in Sochi, Rostov-on-Don and Makhachkala.

"The fact that people came to a rally in Dagestan is not a result of the Alexei Navalny's efforts as a personality, but it is a result of those political and economic relations that have formed in the Dagestani society," Magomed Magomedov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The rally was attended mostly by young people, whose major motive factor is a protest, which was demonstrated during the rally. This was noted by Milrad Fatullaev, the editor-in-chief of the RIA "Derbent".

Milrad Fatullaev believes that there is an increase in political literacy and civic activity in the republic.

In his turn, Dmitry Abrosimov, Assistant Professor of the Institute of Philosophy and Social and Political Sciences of the Southern Federal University (SFU), Candidate of Political Sciences, has commented on the action organized by supporters of Alexei Navalny in Rostov-on-Don. The expert has noted that approximately two thirds of its participants were "completely new people who had not earlier participated in the opposition rallies."

According to Dmitry Abrosimov, last time such a mass action with announcement of political demands was held in late 2011-early 2012 when rallies were attended by about 1000 people.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.