“Paper Bullets” 50a (Russia)

[Left] As a result of May 6, 2012, “March of Millions” protest, 27 people face political charges (unofficially known as “Bolotny Case”) that could send them to prison for up to 10 years. Some are battle-hardened opposition activists, but just as many are ordinary Russians who had joined anti-Putin protests for the first time in 2012. “Fund-raiser for RosUznik 410011434636201 Yandex 9175905631 QIWI”. Sticker features a graphic image of a prisoner grasping jail bars with barbed wire overhead.

[Center] The first March of Millions took place on May 6, 2012, in Moscow on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s presidential inauguration. The March participants demanded comprehensive political reform, review of legislation about elections, as well as early parliamentary and presidential elections. The protest resulted in the collisions of demonstrators with police.

[Right] This slogan was used in the “March of Millions” civil protest of May 6, 2012, in Moscow on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s presidential inauguration. The March participants demanded comprehensive political reform, review of legislation about elections, as well as early parliamentary and presidential elections. The protest resulted into the collisions of demonstrators with police. Image of the Kremlin Clock on the Moscow Clock Tower and the face of the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

[Left] “For Honest Governance” is another protest of the protest movement “The White Ribbon” that took place in the Bely Gorod (“White Town”) central area of Moscow on May 7, 2012 (Vladimir Putin’s inauguration day). “The White Circle” is a protest that took place in February 2012 in Sadovoe Koltso (“The Garden Ring”), the circular avenue around central Moscow. “The route of the procession — Meeting points in the boulevards — The White Town follows the White Circle — No approval required — No slogans and banners, just white ribbons.”

[Center] The march is the action for removal of the governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko, which took place on May 1, 2011. “piter-bez-matvienko.ru”. Black and white photograph of an angry crowd with a color portrait of Matvienko superimposed in the foreground encased in the universal no symbol.

[Right] Political caricature by the Russian artist Andrey Budaev based on the popular children’s poem “Tarakanishche” (“The Monster Cockroach”) by Korney Chukovsky. Black and white line drawing of Vladimir Putin, the president of the Russian Federation, with a a cockroach for a body hovering over a map of Russia.

[Left] Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, who was instrumental in leading an independence movement in British-ruled India, with a quote.

[Right] “Strategy-31” is a nationwide civil movement advocating for freedom of assembly in Russia. It was initiated during the summer of 2009 as an indefinite series of freedom of assembly protests (the 31st article of the Constitution of the Russian Federation). The protests took place on the 31st of all months that have 31 days. Since 2010, such protests have been regularly carried out in St. Petersburg at Gostiny Dvor (Merchant Yard), an indoor shopping center. The governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko, is represented in the sticker. Collage-like image of a woman lying beneath a rearing horse and rider.

Special thanks to Arline Wolfe and Carole Mathey at St. Lawrence University for their research and writing support.