Thousands of people attend pro-Putin election rally скачать в хорошем качестве

Thousands of people attend pro-Putin election rally

(23 Feb 2012) 1. Tilt-up from supporters of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to flag with picture of Putin 2. Putin supporters marching towards Luzhniki Arena 3. Putin supporters lined across street holding banner reading (Russian) "Our vote for Putin" 4. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Schmakov, President of the Independent Trade Unions of Russia: "Among all the (presidential) candidates Putin is the most responsible, the most prepared and the most advanced in order to lead Russia forward." 5. Putin supporters on street with flags and banners 6. Mid of pro-Putin flags and banners 7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Stanislav Govorukhin, Film Director: "(I am supporting) Putin because he is the only one I can trust with my fatherland for my grandchildren and their children." 8. Wide of Putin supporters holding balloons with writing on them reading (Russian) "Our vote for Putin" 9. Various of pro-Putin Cossacks on street 10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ivan Ivanov, Russian colonel: "We came here to congratulate (Putin - on the Defender of the Fatherland Day, a public holiday in Russia). We came to remind people that the Russian state has to be defended for it not to collapse, not to fall into pieces, that's all." 11. Various wide shots of Putin supporters marching along street STORYLINE: Tens of thousands of people marched along the Moscow River and then packed a soccer stadium on Thursday for a campaign rally in support of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Many of them appeared to be state employees who attended at the behest of their employers. The rally coincided with Defender of the Fatherland Day, a public holiday in Russia. Putin is running for a third term as president in an election on March 4. "Among all the (presidential) candidates Putin is the most responsible, the most prepared and the most advanced in order to lead Russia forward," said Mikhail Schmakov, President of the Independent Trade Unions of Russia. Putin is seen as certain to win, but is facing the first outburst of public discontent during his 12 years in power from a protest movement that has drawn tens of thousands to its rallies. He was expected to address the rally inside the Luzhniki stadium, where about 100-thousand were reported to have crowded the stands and pitch. The pro-Putin rally was a response to the opposition protests, which have been embraced by Russia's middle class and young urban professionals. Most of the participants on Thursday appeared to be workers paid or dependent on the state, including teachers, municipals workers and employees of state companies. Some said they were promised two days off in return for attending. Putin has four challengers, including three veteran party leaders who long ago reached an accommodation with the Kremlin and pose little challenge to Putin's authority. The only newcomer is Mikhail Prokhorov, a 46-year-old billionaire businessman who owns the New Jersey Nets basketball team. Prokhorov's candidacy has been viewed as a Kremlin-approved effort to add legitimacy to the election and channel the discontent of the protesters. Grigory Yavlinsky, the veteran leader of the liberal opposition party Yabloko, was denied the right to run due to invalid signatures in support of his bid. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...