Moscow, Russia

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Animated banner for Global Marijuana March 2007 in Moscow.  
Animated banner for Global Marijuana March 2007 in Moscow.
2007 reports and links.  

Moscow, Russia. Global Marijuana March 2007.

Links:

13 marijuana marchers arrested May 5, 2007 by police in the Arbat Street area, and also outside the ARBAT police station. Some beaten. One hospitalized. 6 men sentenced in a kangaroo court that night to 10 days in jail. One man to 15 days. 6 women were fined 4500 rubles each (about $175). English report from participant:

Video of May 5, 2007 arrests outside the ARBAT police station:

Later on May 5, 2007 there were around 30 more arrests at the evening GMM gathering in a park in the city of Moscow.

Video of May 5, 2007 arrests in the park around the All-Russia Exhibition Centre:

Right-click to enlarge. Then click again to enlarge further.

Those arrested in the park were released without fines in around 3 to 4 hours. The Cannabis Walk in the park at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre, was the second part of the May 5, 2007 Global Marijuana March (GMM) in Moscow. The park is located at the VDNKH metro station on the north end of the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line (line number 6 on the map to the right).See:

See this Moscow metro map:

More photos with forums:

Info in English:

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--- Original Message ---
Subject: For Interested person: Policemen are beating Marijuana
march activists in Moscow!
Date: Sun, 6 May 2007 04:22:28 +0400 (MSD)
From: Eugene Kazachenko

Dear sisters and brothers!

My name is Eugene Kazachenko. I'm from Moscow, Russia. Today, some hours ago my friends from Marijuana march were arrested. They tried to stretch the banner with calling to legalize marijuana. The goal of this march was legalization marijuana for medical use. Now there are about 20 people arrested. The police was very cruel with marijuana activists.

With fear for life of our brothers and sisters my friends and I are receiving periodical news of Radio station "Ekcho Moskvy" - (The Echo of Moscow": http://www.echo.msk.ru/ ). This is the only free radio channel, which real informs of social and political life in Russia. It informs that Police has placed people by faces on the ground. Police has dragged girls upon the ground and has beaten young men. Policemen have banged young men by their faces about parked cars. In the police department some young activist was beaten so cruel that this has caused coming an ambulance.

The representatives of The Federal service of drug control have accused all delaying activists in biased attitude to narcotics. Without any reason they have accused participants of Marijuana March in propaganda of narcotics. At the police department some policemen are trying to plant the drugs to activists. However attorney was not passed to his clients for legal defense. On entrance with the sub-machine-gun in hands the policeman did not let to attorney to come into the door of the police department.

Marijuana March was organized by Cannabis Legalization League (Please, visit http://www.legaliz.info/ ). At this moment all of delaying marijuana activists are in Presnentsky administrative (misdemeanor) court of Moscow (phone number of this court: +7 495 254-53-59). They are accusing for undertaking unsanctioned meetings. This position of government disagrees with 31 articles of The Constitutions of Russian Federation and Public International law.

Though many religious confessions concern with a rehabilitation and spiritual counseling for drug abusers, however they never call any attention in regard to the realistic position of medical cannabis. Regrettably Christians and other religious circles of Russia do not raise a voice in rights protection of drugs consumers from unjustified state repression.

Because of unchangeable and increased repressive policy of Russia in attitude to consumers of drugs the religious figures are positioning itself apart of to questions of government drugs policy. Hypocritically the majority of them tacitly agrees with official drug policy or on the pattern of flattering politicians they loudly convicts all people, which voice opinion for legalization hemp as a medicine.

With respect,

Eugene Kazachenko
(MDiv of Moscow Theological Seminary).
E-mail: e_kazachenko(at)yahoo.com; sabba(at)fromru.com
Mob: +7 916 9808590

---end of forwarded message---

More 2007 GMM Moscow info in Russian:

More Moscow 2007 GMM photos and police action

"Putin skinhead whores report":

---

Press release below for April 27, 2007 press conference in Moscow called "Cannabis - Hemp is useful!" Maria Smirnova translated the press release.

Cannabis Legalize League invites you to attend a press-conference in a round-table format, "Cannabis - Hemp is useful!", that will take place on April 27, 2007 in Moscow, Russia.

Discussion of the following subjects:

  • Current legal status of hemp and its derivatives, future prospects for reform of Russian and international law regarding hemp use in agriculture, industry and medicine.
  • The Prospects of therapeutic cannabis for a wide spectrum of diseases. The achievements of world medicine.
  • The possibilities of hemp use in agriculture and industry; economic, ecological and technical advantages of hemp compared to the competition.
  • Myths and facts about psychoactive hemp.
  • Pros and cons of hemp legalization. Various legalization models. Economic effects.

We expect famous experts in drugs, Russian and international politics, journalists, cultural workers, FSKN and MVD representatives to attend this press-conference.

If you have any suggestions about the subject matter of the round table or you wish to present your own report, we are pleased to consider it.

Please, inform us whether you will attend not later then April 17, 2007 by e-mail: mariasmirnova(at)gmail.com , ussserge(at)gmail.com or call +7.905.5756331, +7.926.2299830

Link:

This info was translated by Maria Smirnova. Her blog:

2006[edit | edit source]

Return to top. See 2006 Global Marijuana March map.

GMM, May 6, 2006:

More info:

There were no arrests in 2006 at the Moscow Global Marijuana March. The disorders announced beforehand by nationalists on the Internet did not take place at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre. The cannabis walk, which was organized by Cannabis Legalize League instead of the march prohibited by the Moscow authorities, went off calmly. There were no incidents first of all because of the work of Moscow police which was well prepared for them. At 5 pm about 200 people gathered at the fountain "Friendship of peoples" behind the lens of numerous cameras and under protection of police and OMON. Many of them were dressed in colorful clothes with symbols of the prohibited plant. Cannabis walkers were communicating, singing, playing the drums, some of them were publicly smoking cannabis. A group of several dozen of young men, led by the deputy of the State Duma from LDPR party Nikolay Kurjanovich, could only throw up their hands and scan several times: "Drug users! Get out of Russia!" and "The Christ has revived! " The improvised political debates on the policy in the sphere of drugs, which took place between the deputy Kurjanovich and the secretary of "Russian Radicals" movement Nikolay Khramov near the same fountain behind the cameras, aroused a special interest of press, cannabis walkers and their opponents.

An Interfax article:
Apr 27 2006 1:07PM.
Attempts to hold pro-marijuana march are provocative - drug service.
MOSCOW. April 27 (Interfax) - Attempts by supporters of the legalization of marijuana to hold a march in Moscow in early May are a provocative act, head of the Federal Drug Control service's interdepartmental affairs and information department Lt. Gen. Alexander Mikhailov told Interfax on Thursday. "Russia is growing hemp for economic needs. The produce is limited to economic needs and everything else is the work of the devil. Legalizing the plant as a narcotic drug is out of the question. The issue should not even be discussed," Mikhailov said. Supporters of the legalization of marijuana have asked the Moscow administration for authorization to hold a march in early May. Similar requests were made in previous years, but all of them were turned down.

Reports, media: Всемирный Конопляный Марш 2006 в Москве | Лига Легализации Конопли / Cannabis Legalize League. Google translation:

English translation.  

World Hemp March 2006 in Moscow Published in SergE May 7, 2006 - 18:00

10:00-12:00. Planting trees in the forest park "Kuskovo"

14:00-15:00. PICKET IN SUPPORT Demonstration in Pushkin Square

17:05 -... Hemp FESTIVITIES near the fountain "Friendship of Peoples" FOR ENEA Planting trees in the forest park "Kuskovo"

In Forest Park "Kuskovo" activists and supporters of the League carried 33 landing larches. Action is dedicated to the victims of "war on drugs" (drug war), began in 1933 in the U.S. administration, "Prohibition," which grew out of the world drug mafia, has penetrated almost all government and paralmenty world.

PHOTO

05/07/2006 Hemp WORLD MARCH - 2006. MOSCOW. 14:00 - 15:00. PICKET IN SUPPORT Demonstration in Pushkin Square

radikaly.ru:

About 15 activists of the League of legalizing hemp and the movement "Russian Radicals" held this afternoon at Pushkin Square to protest against the ban by Moscow authorities on the intended day of the march of hemp in the international campaign Global Marijuana March.

Guarding the demonstration the police shortly after it began, however, require the organizers to remove the flags of the legalization of hemp League, as their presence allegedly did not meet the stated objectives of the action in the notice. Time remaining protesters stood with uplifted empty shafts in protest.

polit.ru:

This year's bid to host the World march of hemp have filed 189 cities. At Moscow activists drawn from the "legalization of marijuana League 'notice of a procession from the Old Arbat to Pushkin Square metropolitan government rejected" due to the fact that the objective stated in the notice of public events suggests a violation of the ban on promoting drugs. " Organizers of the "hemp march" was considered such a waiver illegal, because the shares are not intended in any way advocate the illegal use of illicit psychoactive substances. Requirement of the organizers came down to political claims based on Article 29 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, freedom to seek, receive, transmit, produce and disseminate information by any lawful means. Raising the issue of revision of existing law with regard to cannabis, the organizers were guided by their constitutional right to direct participation in managing state affairs (Article 32 of the Constitution), as well as the principle of ideological pluralism, laid the foundation of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation (Article 13 of the Constitution). In this regard, the Moscow City Court has filed an application for recognition of the failure to conduct "hemp march" illegal.

In today's demonstration, held in Novopushkinsky Square, was attended by a dozen community activists. They unfurled a banner "For the freedom of demonstration," and raised the flags with the symbol of "legalizing hemp League." The representative of the prefecture of the Central Autonomous demanded the protesters to remove the flag as not conforming to the application picket. Although these guidelines are not within the purview of city officials, in order to avoid a confrontation with police picketers submitted the request and continued to stand empty shafts, said in an interview with reporters that the government once again highlights the illegal demands. According to Dmitry Zlotnikov, one of the activists of the "League of legalization of cannabis", Moscow became the sole capital of the "Big Eight" in which the conduct of Global Marijuana March this year was denied. In his view, it can not affect negatively on the image of Russia on the eve of the summit of "Eight", which will be held in St. Petersburg in July this year.

After graduating from the picket to the participants who were walking in the area of ​​the Tver parkway, approached by several riot police and threatened with physical force required to leave at once. After that, the activists for "legalizing hemp League" has for a long time continued to follow the three members of security forces in civilian clothes.

PHOTO Hemp WORLD MARCH - 2006. MOSCOW. 17:05 - ... Hemp FESTIVITIES near the fountain "Friendship of Peoples" FOR ENEA

polit.ru:

The second part of the shares today was not a political organizer and was named "Hemp festivities." About a hundred fans of cannabis and its derivatives at the call of "LLC" gathered at 17:00 at Friendship Fountain on the All-Russian Exhibition Centre. An attempt to disrupt the event was noted by a group of nationalists, is approximately equal to the number of the participants 'walks'. Supporters and opponents of the legalization of soft drugs entered the war of words, but the overflow into a brawl conflict prevented delivered to AREC and riot police forces.

The purpose of "hemp march" was to be an attempt to appeal to the Russian society and the authorities to stop criminal and administrative prosecution of psychoactive cannabis users, a maximum simplification of licensing activities related to the cultivation of cannabis and its technical processing, lift the ban on therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives. The current situation, according to activists for the legalization of cannabis derivatives - hashish and marijuana - contributes to the fact that the main fight narcotics police are with the consumers of soft drugs, but not with distributors, particularly opiate drug group, which are deadly to humans, resulting in contrast of marijuana and hashish physical dependence. Such a situation, the advocates of legalizing marijuana, it is advantageous primarily to drug traffickers and corrupt power structures, earning millions of dollars in profit from the illicit trade in drugs.

radikaly.ru:

Previously announced by the nationalists on the Internet at VVC riots did not happen. "Hemp festivals" organized by the League of the legalization of hemp instead of the Moscow authorities banned the march, passed quietly and without incident in the first place - thanks to well prepare for the police. About 200 people gathered in 17 hours under the lens of numerous TV cameras and guarded by policemen and riot policemen in Fountain "Friendship of Peoples", many of which - in a colorful dress with the symbols of a prohibited plant, talked, sang, played drums, some - smoking in public ' shoals. "

Yavivshasya on "Hemp festivals," a group of several dozen young people, led by State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party, Nikolai Kuryanovich, limited by the fact that the throwing arm, several times in unison chanted "addicts - get out of Russia" and for some reason, "Christ is risen."

Of particular interest is the press held immediately aroused when a large concourse of spectators impromptu political debate on television between the deputy and the secretary Kuryanovich "Russian Radicals" Nikolai Khramov on drug policy.

Statement by Nicholas Khramova:

"I am grateful to the many dozens of young men and women who came to participate in the festivities hemp, not afraid abundantly penivshihsya eve online threats against protesters. I am also grateful and deputy Kuryanovich, who had come to, as I understand it, peacefully express their position on the legalization of marijuana - though diverging radically from the position as antiprogibitsionistskoy radicals and LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

Special thanks I would like to make the leadership of the Moscow police, employees of police and riot, which provided a model of public order during the festivities and hemp prevent provocation and violence, even if it's someone else planned.

All together now we have successfully complete the task facing us as organizers of this campaign antiprogibitsionistskoy: to promote the deployment of a public debate on the substance of policy proposals antiprohibitionist - legalized in one form or another now prohibited narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (first of all - the so-called "light drugs ", ie cannabis and its derivatives) as a means to undermine the prohibition of drugs based on the power of the drug and to establish on these substances effective government control.

Meanwhile, the critical interpretation of results of the current failed drug policy, is free debate on this subject - is precisely what most supporters are afraid to maintain a system progibitsionizma from bosses drug and its voluntary or involuntary lobbyists in government (including Federal Drug Control Service Guide) to their cannon fodder in the form of a "politicized" street hooligans and aggressive small mongrels Runet strochaschih letters demanding to turn the discussion of "inconvenient" at Live Journal. "

PHOTO

svoboda.ru:

Arslan Said: In Moscow on Sunday were "The onoplyanye celebrations", the organizers are required to legalize marijuana and decriminalization of its consumption. At Fountain "Friendship of Peoples" at the Exhibition Center gathered not only the supporters of legalization, but her opponents.

Michael Salenko: Moscow "Hemp festivities" began on Sunday at five o'clock in the afternoon. The organizers - members of the League of legalizing marijuana - have decided to hold them in place of "hemp march" that Moscow authorities did not allow. On why the place was selected festivals Fountain "Friendship of peoples" in the All-Russian Exhibition Centre and what the requirements are walking, I told one of the activists of the League of legalizing marijuana Sergei Konstantinov.

Sergei Konstantinov: You can see in the center of the fountain, under the sunflowers - hemp. In general, in the 30s in Russia was a four-fifths of the world volumes of technical hemp, it was 900 000 hectares. At the moment, only 10 thousand hectares. Here there is hemp, a symbolic place for our movement.

Our claim, rather, targets the event, which was to be held on the Arbat, the following: changes in government policy on regulation of psychotropic and narcotic substances, in this case, cannabis, simplification of licensing for the cultivation and processing of technical grades of hemp and lift the ban on therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives.

Michael Salenko: Secretary of the movement "Russian Radicals" Nicholas Temples also believes that the state should legalize marijuana and regulate its production and distribution, getting from this additional funding in the form of tax revenue.

Nicholas Temples: Enter the same regulatory requirements for production, trade, taxation, what is there for the alcoholic beverages or tobacco products. Another question that these proposals are not implemented anywhere yet, including in Holland, because Holland is not the legalization of soft drugs, there is a more tolerant policy toward drug use. You are legally entitled to acquire in the Hoff-shop hashish or marijuana, or the owner of Hoff-shop has the right to sell it at retail, but there is no place where he can buy it in bulk. Because wholesale purchases for these shops Hoff made for the back door, so to speak, all at the same drug traffickers because of the legal market does not exist. And here is not that the Government of the Netherlands does not want to go further. The fact that there is a UN convention, which obliges the state to just such a restrictive policy. It is impossible to legalize marijuana in one country, it is necessary first to denounce or to modify at least three UN conventions. Here's the drug policy is clearly enough proved a failure and inefficiency.

Michael Salenko: In addition to the supporters of the legalization of hemp, to the fountain "Friendship of nations" come and its opponents. Opponents of legalization led State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the Duma's security committee Nikolai Kuryanovich. Two of Nicholas, Temples and Kuryanovich peacefully to debate whether or not to legalize hemp and marijuana, as well as harmful to the health of its use.

Nikolai Kuryanovich: Yes you can, if desired, such to have to buy drugs now, even here without a problem. But if we imagine at ENEA in pharmacies would sell them now, probably even now one of the challenges here would come up and said, "Dyke me a bong, I turf."

Nicholas Temples: Nicholas, but vodka is sold, but nothing terrible happens.

Nikolai Kuryanovich: What happens?

Nicholas Temples: There is, of course. But it's much worse than it would if it was banned, then can be etched or palituroy hell knows what else. And Al Capone would have appeared again, as in America in the 20s.

Nikolai Kuryanovich: Same analogy can hold the line. How would the same thing now cheap drugs go, they will be easily accessible.

Nicholas Temples: Why cheap?

Nikolai Kuryanovich: Because if the drug mafia ...

Nicholas Temples: No, Nicholas, wait, we are talking about what? We are talking about drugs or we're talking about marijuana? It's all different things.

Nikolai Kuryanovich: We believe on the contrary, these are the things of the same order. On the severity of these a little different. After all, people start to smoke marijuana first, and then move to heavier drugs.

Nicholas Temples: No, Nicholas, people first start drinking beer, smoking marijuana and then after that heavy.

Nikolai Kuryanovich: Drinking too harmful.

Nicholas Temples: from hemp until no one died, and the vodka we simply dying with terrible speed.

Nikolai Kuryanovich: From hemp why not die, because it is really a transitional bridge from cannabis to harder drugs.

Nicholas Temples: Generally, no statistics. Most likely, of course, those who use hard drugs, they begin with hemp, it's true.

Nikolai Kuryanovich: We can again assume the reverse logical order, if a man in his time had not tried marijuana, it can be switched to harder drugs.

Nicholas Temples: That's understandable. But the fact that not all who start smoking cannabis, moving to hard drugs.

Michael Salenko: Among came to the fountain just young Russian citizens views on the legalization of cannabis and its derivatives, cannabis and mariuhany also divided. Julia and her friends for the legalization of soft drugs.

Julia: No hard drugs, "screws" all sorts and so on heroin - it's awful, it should not be at all.

Michael Salenko: The visitor to the fountain "Friendship of Nations" Michael - the enemy is not only drugs but algokolya.

Michael: Of course, an outspoken opponent. There is nothing good that people just will not. Our people are gullible, simple, more fool the mind pomutnitsya. It will all end badly. We have a healthy and strong Russia, for a healthy lifestyle without drugs and alcohol and their ilk.

Michael Salenko: But what is the opinion regarding the legalization of soft drugs expert of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia Mikhail Narkevich.

Michael Narkevich: I am totally against. Because the step from light to heavy drug - a small step. Where marijuana and recreational drugs, you give a cigarette, in the Netherlands, in Amsterdam you can smoke, there is less of that hard drugs, heroin (I myself was there last year). Methadone - it goes without saying. Already heroin experience is, we were amazed. To some this is necessary, I guess. No control of the state will not, it's all nonsense. We have, according to drug control in our country, six million drug users, 10 years ago was 10 times less. In our country, 70-75 percent of HIV-infected people - drug users. Therefore, we must fight the system, including prevention, investigation of all causes at all. I also think that drug-free world - a utopia, it is. But this does not mean that they should be promoted, they should be allowed.

Michael Salenko: Hemp festivals supporters and opponents of the legalization of soft drugs in Fountain "Friendship of Peoples" ended peacefully to the sounds of "tam-tam." Last but not least thanks to the presence of considerable number of police with dogs and a bus of riot police. (Probably due to the large number of journalists - approx. Edition of the site.)

2005[edit | edit source]

Return to top. See 2005 Global Marijuana March map.

GMM. May 7, 2005:

  • user.it-orbita.ru - Archived here.
  • user.it-orbita.ru/~4may Archived here. Google translation:
English translation.  
Hemp will march across the planet , except for Moscow. For the simple reason that the initiative group of citizens (the organizing committee of the march of hemp), intending to organize a march in the capital, made a great folly - has decided to keep the law. The due date (27.04.2005) [April 27, 2004] in the Prefecture of the Central Administrative District of Moscow filed notice of a march of hemp. 05/04/2005, [April 5, 2005] the Prefecture of the employee responsible for receiving notifications, reported the following: "... A march of hemp? course, forbidden! As in the past year . Here employees of the constantly ringing, are interested ... You will not hold an unauthorized rally as in the past year? Look more carefully, in Moscow intensified regime ... "

So. In Moscow there will be a march of hemp. It would not be in the form which was planned - with banners, flags and rally. Will not, because Prefecture CAO shamelessly violated the Federal Law "On Meetings, Rallies, Demonstrations, Marches and Pickets": the only thing that the authorities were entitled to do is three days after receipt of the notice, the organizers propose to change the time and place of the action. But this was not done.

This is to inform employees of the Prefecture of esteemed TSAO of Moscow and personally Mr. Baidakova (prefect CAO) that will not hold any unauthorized mass demonstrations that are described in the notice filed by April 27.

But to worship the memory war poet Bulat Okudzhava Shalvovich on the eve of Victory Day is not entitled to prohibit any one prefecture of the world, even if it's prefecture of central district of the capital of the victorious country. Therefore, we ask all who have gathered to honor the memory of Bulat Okudzhava, May 7 on the Arbat, do not bring any banners or posters. We strongly recommend not bringing anything illegal and to abstain from both banned and legal substances. Arbat - the street poets, musicians and artists, so very relevant in the Arbat tricolor berets, drums, jew's harp, dreadlocks, warm hearts, clean hands, cool heads and good vibrations ...

May 7 - Day of Remembrance of Bob Marley. For victory! For our victory!

2004[edit | edit source]

Return to top. See Global Marijuana March 2004 map.

GMM-MMM, May 4, 2004. Saturday:

2003[edit | edit source]

Return to top. See GMM 2003, MillionMarijuanaMarch.org archive, 2.

GMM-MMM, May 4, 2003. Sunday:

From Moscow, the Moscow team wrote to say that their MMM was held on Sunday, May 4 as a Smoke-In for Human Rights. At noon, about 20 activists gathered on Pushkin Square in the center of the Russian capital, where they smoked up while posting stickers and distributing a petition to legalize marijuana and the MOZG harm-reduction magazine. Members of the reggae band Jah Division were in attendance, and passersby joined the festivities as well to listen to what was being said.
“At one point, Dima, an activist, was passing out literature and asked to leave his spot, an underpass, by a policeman. He refused and the policeman was joined by others until there were eight cops to the one activist. ‘Then we explained to them that legalization meant state production and supply of drugs, therefore controlling the drug trade. They understood it the way cops would we able to open their own shops and sell drugs, which actually cheered them up. But they still thought it unrealistic, so they asked us to leave the underpass, and promised that next year they would smoke with us.’”
"In Moscow, 20 activists came together in Pushkin Square to smoke pot, post stickers, hand out the harm-reduction magazine MOZG, and display a petition to legalize pot. A possibly unpleasant situation involving one activist and eight policemen was diffused when legalization was explained to the cops as something that would be mutually beneficial. The activists were still asked to leave the underpass they were occupying, but not before the police promised to smoke pot with them next year."

Event graphics and photos[edit | edit source]

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