This excerpt from the documentary project Srok takes us back to a pivotal day in the history of Russian protest movements — May 6, 2012. On the eve of Putin’s next inauguration, the authorized “March of Millions” at Bolotnaya Square ended in violent clashes provoked by the authorities and marked the beginning of the repressive “Bolotnaya case” (the criminal prosecution that followed the protest). The camera captured the dramatic moment of Alexei’s detention: until the very end, he was urging people not to leave, while the “valiant” law enforcement officers brutally twisted his arms behind his back and threatened to break them.
Text version
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Dear friends, we did not come out into the streets in
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December and March
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only to now accept that our
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election was stolen from us. Yes or no?
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Yes.
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We will not leave. We will not leave.
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We will not leave. We will not leave.
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There go the police—they're taking over,
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the platform, as I understand it.
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They carried it away.
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On what grounds? Just like that.
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Next, the next 10 people.
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Where is Tsarkov? Why don't we have any sound?
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The police cut the cable about five minutes ago,
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because they announced that it was
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all over.
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Give me the megaphone.
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The megaphone. Here
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is the megaphone.
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Here.
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It needs to be charged.
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Don't touch the amplifier, because this is the best way
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to keep it from, well, from buzzing.
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It's getting interference from your hand. Interference from your hand.
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I can handle it. Take him away.
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Take me where? I haven't done anything yet.
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Who? Wait a second, wait a second.
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What are you doing?
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What are you taking me in for?
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What are you doing? What are you detaining him for?
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Do not disperse. Everyone stay here.
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Everyone stay here. Do not disperse.
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You'll break his arm, his arm.
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You'll break his wrist.
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Will you walk on your own?
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I will, I will.
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Lower it.
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Brother, don't struggle. I'll fucking break your arm.
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Got it?
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I'll have you locked up later.
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Oh, ah,
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oh, fuck, you're going to break it, break it, break it.
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What kind of damn demons are you, anyway?
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Where the fuck are you taking him?
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Ow, ow, ow.
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Loosen up a little.
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Bend down.
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Let's go.
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That's another one.
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