Saturday, November 24, 2007

Kasparov Arrested and Sentenced

On November 24, 2007, former world chess champion Garry Kasparov was arrested and sentenced to five days in prison after he helped lead a protest against President Vladimir Putin.

Kasparov is one of President Vladimir Putin's harshest critics. He was charged with organizing a demonstration without permission, chanting anti-government slogans, and resisting arrest, court documents said.

There is growing concern in the West over the state of democracy in Russia. Western critics claim that Putin is restricting freedom. Putin accuses the West of meddling in Russian politics.

Kasparov and dozens of other demonstrators were detained after the rally which drew several thousand people.

Kasparov's coalition includes radicals, democrats and Soviet-era dissidents. It has attracted significant media coverage but generated little public support.

1 comment:

Frieda said...

Read his great book, " how life imitates chess"...he has dedicated the book to his Armenian mother and how she encouraged him to enter into politics. Here is an excerpt:

"I'm infinitely grateful that the same person who guided me through my first career , my mother, Klara, is again with me at the start of my second. Whenever I'm faced with difficult path, her words inspire me: "if not you, who else"

Indeed, if not Kasparov, who else will free Russian for real!