A Torn Moscow

From USA Today:

"In Moscow, Ukraine intervention has fans, critics"

Muscovites demonstrated in the street Sunday voicing protest against and support for the Russian government's threat to deploy armed forces to Ukraine. But while authorities accommodated and encouraged a pro-government rally, a smaller protest demonstration down the street was not sanctioned. "I'm sick of it," said Olga Ivanova, a public school teacher in Moscow who said that her bosses told her to go to demonstrate in support of the government's actions in Ukraine. Instead, she went to the unsanctioned protest rally down the street. "It wasn't completely obligatory, but it was hard to say no. Nevertheless, I said I couldn't. I want to come out and support my own position. I feel there shouldn't be any armed intervention." Police cordoned off several central streets in Moscow to let the thousands-strong pro-government rally pass, with pedestrians wanting to cross the street told to wait. Police said 27,000 people had showed up for the demonstration, with many holding signs that said, "We won't give up Sevastopol," and "Maidan won't pass," referring to Independence Square in Kiev, where the pro-Western opposition succeeded in ousting Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich.

Few at the rally agreed to talk to reporters, particularly to an American publication. "Go talk to someone else," said a man holding a poster that said "I'm with Putin." Another man holding an

Others who came out to support the government said they were against military action, but for law and order for Russian-speakers in Ukraine. "I live in Moscow but I was born in Feodosia. I have a lot of friends there. We know the situation there. My mother lives in Crimea, and I remember when Russian-speaking residents were forced to get Ukrainian citizenship when Ukraine became independent in 1991," said Nina, who declined to give her last name. "I want to support the Russian-speaking population, but only peacefully," said Natalia Ivanova, a Muscovite in her forties, adding that she didn't think Russia would actually intervene militarily. "But if it's necessary, then it should be done. Still, the people [in Crimea] are very organized, I don't think they would need outside help to stand up for themselves." Down the street, an anti-government rally in front of the Kremlin gathered between 150 and 700 people during the afternoon, according to various estimates, but some demonstrators were scared away by police, who told the crowd over loudspeakers that the gathering "has not been sanctioned by executive authorities." A number of people who unfurled signs protesting Russian military action in Ukraine were seen being hauled away by riot police to several trucks that stood by. A total of 285 people were detained for protesting, according to the Moscow police. At one point, a riot police officer called out through a loudspeaker: "Dear women, there's not going to be a war, please leave." "People are gathered here who are outraged by the insolent policies of this country's government and Putin in particular," said Mikhail Barinov, a Muscovite and retired geologist in his late 50s. Asked if he felt that Saturday's ruling by Russia's senate, allowing the deployment of armed forces to Ukraine, would lead to military action, he said "an intervention has already begun. Yesterday, I couldn't believe that such an idiotic, odious decision had been taken by the so-called Federation Council. It's a disgrace. I have relatives in the Ukraine that have lived there for 100 years. I haven't seen any violations whatsoever against Russians there in the twenty-something years since the breakup of the Soviet Union. I regret that I didn't come out in protest together with the seven others in spring 1968 [when the Soviet Union sent troops to rein in the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia]."

^ It seems that the Moscow (and Russia) of today bears the same feeling of the Soviet Union. You have to agree and openly support the government no matter what otherwise you will be arrested. You have to attend the pro-government rallies or risk loosing your job. I can not understand how someone can say that the Russia of today is "modern, civilized and open for business" when in the same breath the country invades another country, arrests anyone who non-violently opposes them and censors everything. I am still a Russophile, but it is difficult to explain to non-Russians how the country and the people of Russia are good despite what the government in power at the time does. It was that way in Czarist and Soviet times and seems to be the case here. ^

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/02/moscow-ukraine-reaction/5945141/