Hundreds get in gear in Moscow to support fair elections

Hundreds of cars with white ribbons have made a full circle around the ring road in Moscow to attract more people to the opposition march in support of Fair Elections, scheduled for February 4.

The “White Ring” rally began on Sunday at 14:00 pm Moscow time. Lasting for three hours, it gathered between 1,000 and 5,000 cars, the opposition says. Police counted only 300 cars, reports RIA Novosti news agency.White ribbons, white balloons and white mascots – anything white fitted to decorate the cars for the rally. The drivers handed out several hundred stickers which read “For fair elections” and “My vote has been stolen.”Russian Twitter was split between elated comments from the rally’s participants, and angry messages from drivers stuck in traffic jams caused by the event.Though the run had not been sanctioned by Moscow authorities, police said they would not interfere if the participants did not halt traffic along the Sadovoye belt street. No special incidents were reported.The rally was called by the Voters’ League, which sprang into being after thousands of Moscow citizens protested the results of the parliamentary election in December. The poll brought victory to the United Russia party associated with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev. Protesters question the ballot count, and want to ensure the upcoming presidential poll will not involve vote rigging.