Svobodna Dnevnik

[Hadash]

Svobodna Dnevnik

---

---

Protests against political corruption turn violent in Mordvania
By: Polina Lamparska
Published: Dein, 1598


Protesters in Slovograd. Mordvanian government blamed the far-right and radical groups for recent violence

---

The Mordvanian goverment is facing increasing criticism of its management of recent anti-government protests.

Yesterday, more than a hundred people were arrested only in Slovograd, after a group of protesters faced the riot police. Following the crashes, at least 200 citizens and 20 policeman needed medical assistance. A 59-year old protestor was announced dead, although it was later confirmed that the cause of death was a heart of attack.

The recent wave of protests started two months ago in Mestarka, and then they spread around the country, including Slovograd, Republic of Mordvania's capital city. The first was called by a coalition of local activists, student organizations, and independent political groups, calling to strengthen the rule of law and more transparency against corruption, specially regarding the doubtful practices exposed in the so-called Handke Tapes leaks. Although the protests were not originally against the Mordvanian government, as the protest movement spread, criticism against Mordvanian government and more radical demands against corruption increased during the protests.

The protest movement started as peaceful and non-partisan, however, in the last weeks tensions have increased within the protest movement itself and with the authorities as well. In the first case, it started when several opposition parties gave support of the protests, or at least promised to work to satisfy their concerns and some of their demands. In the second case, and more recently, when nationalist and far-right groups joined the protests and started to have a more confrontational attitude with the police. A week ago, there were crashes with the police in at least six towns.

While some of the early activists who started the movement have condemned the violence and deny any involvement, the protest movement has demanded the resignation of Slobodan Narisek, the Minister of National Security, blaiming him of poor management of the protests. Several lawmakers have promised that they will call for a special committee to investigate if there was any wrongdoing in the management of the events.