Police estimated that the rally, called The Essence of the Times, drew around 1,000 demonstrators, Interfax reported. Organizers said before the event that they had expected up to fifteen times that amount.
The movement's leader, iconoclastic political scientist Sergei Kurginyan, spoke to the crowd from a stage outside the All-Russia Exhibition Center about the need to prevent a Western-backed uprising.
"People...came here to save Russia," he said, Interfax reported.
After speaking, he led the crowd in a song called "If There is War Tomorrow."
The event concluded with participants settling on the goal of creating "USSR 2.0."
Kurginyan spoke at a Feb. 4 rally with a similar theme, held at Poklonnaya Gora in central Moscow. That event drew 140,000 people, by police estimates.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
