Edinburgh Evening News
Thu 26 Jun 2003
City man protests at Putin's visit in London
JOHN RUTTER
A PROTESTER threw himself in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s
car as he drove to Holyrood Palace during his groundbreaking visit to the Capital.
As Mr Putin’s entourage passed through the palace gates on the way to a
private lunch, the man flung himself in front of the president’s car.
The demonstrator, who was unhurt, shouted slogans attacking the war in Chechnya
and was wrestled to the ground by police officers.
A police spokesman said: "A 24-year-old man was arrested and taken to St Leonard’s
station."
The protest failed to spoil a visit during which the president, who was accompanied
by the Duke of York, enjoyed the city’s historic sites and met with academics,
politicians and members of the business community.
Mr Putin’s one-day tour began when he was greeted by First Minister Jack
McConnell at Edinburgh Castle.
(snip)
But despite the historical significance of the president’s visit, the former
KGB officer’s presence in Scotland proved controversial.
MSPs had called on the First Minister to raise the issue of alleged war crimes
in Chechnya with the president when the two met.
And both SNP shadow justice minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Socialist Rosie
Kane had lodged separate motions expressing concern over reports that Russian
soldiers had committed atrocities in the breakaway republic. Later in the afternoon
the president and his entourage visited the Queen’s Gallery to view an exhibition
of works by the jeweller Fabergé.