In Saratov, the authorities apparently mistook me for someone else.
The thing is, we reviewed the laws in every region and found that Saratov has the most liberal rules when it comes to “Hyde Parks” (designated public protest areas). There’s a local law that basically says: just show up and hold your rally—no prior notification required.
But we try to make things easier for everyone, so we notified the authorities of our plans anyway.
So these geniuses in the governor’s office came up with what they thought was a clever plan: Navalny will come to his rally, and the place will already be occupied! Well, obviously, he’ll be sad and leave. Some people will be up on stage singing into a microphone—what else is he supposed to do? He’ll take a few pictures and go home.
Like I said, they mistook me for someone else. I’m not a fussy candidate. I can speak through a megaphone or without one. I can do it from a bench or from a playground slide. That’s part of a candidate’s job, and it’s no place to be picky.
We arrive, and there’s already a huge crowd. We walk toward the stage, and around it there’s a fenced-off patch literally about 5 by 5 meters. It’s supposedly a rally by some “patriots.” There are about six of these patriots—middle-aged guys in camouflage. Someone on stage is singing songs about love for the motherland, and the funniest part is that they’re being introduced by a police major in uniform. I’d never seen anything like it before—it was hilarious. An actual major walks up to the microphone stand, looks at a sheet of paper, and announces: “And now, a song about our native birch trees.”
I call over the head patriot and tell him: this is my rally, and all these people came for me. We’ve got more than a thousand people here, and there are six of you—hand over the microphone.
The patriot flatly refuses. The police are standing there with him inside their little pen, glaring sternly at me.
Fine then. Who are we to stop people from playing songs about native birch trees?
So we moved about 300 meters away so their music wouldn’t be audible, and held a perfectly excellent rally in the same square, which is a designated Hyde Park protest area.
I was looking for a bench, but we found a playground instead, which was even better. At first I was just shouting, and then someone brought over a megaphone.
As often happens with these chaotic rallies that the authorities try to sabotage, the atmosphere turned out to be incredible. It gave me a huge boost of energy.
A huge thank-you to everyone who came. You’re wonderful. I’m proud of this support.
Tomorrow — Pskov. At 1:30 p.m. by the Monument to the 50th Anniversary of the Red Army in Kresty.
On Sunday — Samara. At 4:00 p.m. in Kirov Square.