4,000-strong opposition rally takes place in Russia's north – Communists | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire: “A total of 4,000 representatives of Russia’s opposition parties and their supporters took out to the streets in the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk on Sunday protesting against rising prices for energy, heating and communal services, the Communist Party said.
However, according to police estimates, the number of protestors, who, in particular, demanded that utility prices be lowered to 2009 levels and that the governor resign, was ten times fewer, about 450 people.
Russia was badly hit by the global economic crisis, with the government devaluing the ruble and cutting spending. It has also introduced a set of unpopular measures in 2010, including higher community services bills, increased prices for food and medicines, and higher public transport fares.”