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Russia's Drivers Fight Back Against Elite

Russian authorities are bracing for a wave of protests this weekend as working class citizens intend to drive through cities in convoys to voice their feelings against the country's chauffeur- driven elite. The outrage was sparked by the fate of Oleg Shcherbinsky, a railway worker from Siberia, who was jailed for four years last week for failing to yield to a speeding Mercedes carrying Mikhail Yevdokimov, the regional governor.The limousine careened off the road and into a tree, killing the governor.Across Russia this weekend, thousands of people are planning to protest by driving in convoy through major cities with slogans including "Today it's Shcherbinsky. Tomorrow it will be you!" draped on their cars.The case has brought to the boil simmering anger at a two-tier system that allows bureaucrats in chauffeur-driven black limousines to weave dangerously through traffic while other motorists are fined for the smallest misdemeanour. Some say it is a metaphor for Russian society in general under President Vladimir Putin where a narrow class of bureaucrats enjoy increasing power while, critics say, ordinary peoples' rights are undermined.
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posted by Annamarie at 12:43 AM