Repressions in Russia. Part 1. Bolotnaya Square.

The Bolotnaya Square protests in 2012 were a significant moment in Russia’s recent political history. Sparked by allegations of electoral fraud in the 2011 parliamentary elections, the protests gained momentum leading up to the 2012 presidential election, which Putin was widely expected to win. Tens of thousands of people across Russia took to the streets to protest against corruption, electoral fraud, and Putin’s authoritarian rule.

The protest on Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012, was one of the largest and most significant protests of the movement. Although it began peacefully, the protest turned violent when clashes broke out between the protesters and police. The government’s response to the protests was widely criticized by human rights groups and democratic governments worldwide as a clear example of the government’s intolerance of opposition and willingness to use force to maintain power.

In the aftermath of the protests, the Russian government launched a crackdown on opposition figures and activists, arresting and imprisoning many on trumped-up charges. The “Bolotnaya case” refers to the trials and imprisonments of protesters involved in the Bolotnaya Square protest. Dozens were charged with inciting mass unrest, attacking police officers, and attempting to overthrow the government.

The trials were widely criticized as politically motivated attempts to silence dissent and opposition to Putin’s rule. In 2014, eight defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two-and-a-half to four years, becoming known as the “Bolotnaya Eight” and considered political prisoners by human rights groups and opposition figures. Two more defendants were sentenced in 2015, with one fleeing Russia and receiving asylum in Estonia.

Many protesters were also fined or subjected to other forms of punishment. The Bolotnaya case remains a contentious issue in Russia, with opposition figures and human rights activists calling for the release of the protesters and an end to the government’s repression of political dissent. It is seen as a symbol of the government’s intolerance of opposition and dissent and its willingness to use the legal system to silence and intimidate its critics.