Russian newspapers have expressed shock at the violent dispersal of opposition demonstrations at the weekend, including the detention of former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, who leads the protest movement Another Russia.
One commentator however thought the protests were US-backed acts of provocation, and another said a gulf was opening between street activists and opposition parties.
MIKHAIL ROSTOVSKIY IN MOSKOVSKIY KOMSOMOLETS
Everyone is a loser as a result of the crackdown on the Dissenters' Marches. Who needs brains when we have brawn? That is the only conclusion one can draw in assessing the disproportionate and inappropriate reaction of the Russian authorities to the Dissenters' March... Yet another powerful blow has been dealt to Russia's and Putin's already battered image. Foreign Minister Lavrov can continue eloquently to reproach the Western media for their lack of objectivity. But when foreign correspondents are treated with truncheons, they would rather believe their own feelings than even the most eloquent minister.
MIKHAIL ROMANOV IN MOSKOVSKIY KOMSOMOLETS
What are the authorities so afraid of? In total about 250 people were arrested. About 2,000 people, not including journalists, took part in the march as such. Another 500 joined them at Turgenev Square [in Moscow]. In all about 2,750 dissenters. Why did one need 10,000 Omon [anti-riot] police to oppose them?
ALEKSANDR SIDYACHKO AND IGOR ROMANOV IN NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
What befell Garry Kasparov was sad. He managed to talk to the people for just a few minutes and then the champion was arrested... Ordinary "dissenters" were far less lucky. Police treated them with particular attention. They would be detained for a spoken word, or for an attempt to unfurl a poster, or "simply for nothing".
NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
It is not clear why the authorities are afraid of protesters. Why are representatives of the authorities saying that the street is not the place for expressing protests?... Are they really afraid that their position in reality is not that strong, despite their election results and approval ratings?
KIRA LATUKHINA AND YELENA RAGOZINA IN VEDOMOSTI
The Dissenters' March has revealed deep internal disagreements between the leaders of the party opposition - the Union of Right Forces, Yabloko and the Communist Party - and their activists in Moscow, St Petersburg and other regions. Many opposition members cannot understand why they cannot rally against the authorities together with Another Russia. The leaders are playing a double game: they are assuring the Kremlin of loyalty but they are not stopping their activists either, experts believe.
ANDREY VORONIN IN NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
The Dissenters' March with which Another Russia has been threatening the authorities for a long time turned out to be surprisingly short-lived and poorly attended. And the methods its organisers used were reminiscent of a paid political act of provocation... We are dealing with serious, planned and persistent work against Russia, in which the United States is prepared to use any forces and any figures capable of at least assisting to some extent in destabilising the situation in the country.
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