Moscow, 5 September 1996 (RFE/RL) -- A large public rally scheduled for today in Moscow to protest the war in Chechnya has been called off by its organizers. But several public groups say they will go ahead with the protest anyway.
The demonstration was called last month by leaders of the Russian media in an effort to spark a nationwide anti-war movement. But Yegor Yakovlev, the editor-in-chief of "Obshchaya Gazeta," said it was agreed to suspend the rally in the hope that the peace accord negotiated last week by National Security chief Alexander Lebed will continue to hold.
The planned route of the march was from Pushkin to Lubyanka squares in Moscow. The Kremlin had authorized a rally of up to 30,000 people.
The demonstration was called last month by leaders of the Russian media in an effort to spark a nationwide anti-war movement. But Yegor Yakovlev, the editor-in-chief of "Obshchaya Gazeta," said it was agreed to suspend the rally in the hope that the peace accord negotiated last week by National Security chief Alexander Lebed will continue to hold.
The planned route of the march was from Pushkin to Lubyanka squares in Moscow. The Kremlin had authorized a rally of up to 30,000 people.