Most Russian opposition parties and groups have agreed to hold a large-scale demonstration in a remote area of Moscow after being denied permission to rally in the city center.
Boris Nemtsov, the co-chairman of the opposition RPR-Parnas party, told reporters on February 20 that "the most important thing is not the place of the march, but the message."
A number of other antigovernment groups and movements are expected to take part in the rally, dubbed the "vesna (Spring) anti-crisis march."
The Yabloko party, however, said it will snub the event in Moscow's outskirt of Maryino in protest at the location.
Organizers expect 100,000 protesters to attend the march, which will include calls for the resignation of President Vladimir Putin and for an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
