Tens of Thousands Putin Supporters March and Rally in Moscow

Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Luzhniki sports stadium in Moscow on Thursday in a massive and well-organized display of support for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

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© RIA Novosti . Valery Melnikov

Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Luzhniki sports stadium in Moscow on Thursday in a massive and well-organized display of support for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Vilf

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The rally was preceded by a march along the banks of the Moskva river through central Moscow to the stadium

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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Vilf

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Police said around 30,000 people took part in the march.

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© RIA Novosti . Valery Melnikov

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Patriotic songs from Soviet times blared out during the march to the stadium.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Vilf

Some Russian media said authorities sought to boost attended by pressuring state employees to attend the rally. Organizers denied that anyone had been pressured to attend.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich

Thursday was a public holiday in Russia, giving most voters the day off.

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© RIA Novosti . Ramil Sitdikov

Many of the banners held by participants at the rally bore the photographs of Putin’s face that were used for the cover of the US weekly magazine Time, when it selected Putin as its “Man of the Year” in 2007.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Vilf

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Some participants at the rally held flags and placards with slogan such as “We won’t let them ruin the country!” “Who, if not Putin?” “Vote stability – Vote Putin.”

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© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin

Many participants sported identical attire and banners.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Filippov

Police said 130,000 gathered at the Luzhniki stadium prior to Putin’s arrival, despite City Hall capping attendance at 100,000.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Filippov

Speakers at the event also included conservative political pundit Mikhail Leontyev, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin (in the photo), famous pilot and head of the MAKS airshow Magomed Tolboyev, etc.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Filippov

Putin was greeted with a round of chants when he took the stage.

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© RIA Novosti . Yana Lapikova

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“Do you love Russia?” Putin asked the crowd, which responded with loud shouts of “Yes!”

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Kudenko

“We won’t allow anybody to interfere into our internal affairs and impose their will on us because we have our own will,” Putin said. “We are a nation of victors. It’s in our genes.”

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© RIA Novosti . Sergei Mamontov

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“The battle for Russia is raging on. We’ll be victorious,” Putin said, wrapping up his speech.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Filippov

Putin's speech was followed by a show of his favorite folk rock band Lyube.