|
Russia’s Tea Party Movement should be called the “Blue Bucket Brigade.”
The blue bucket is used as the symbol because often VIP’s, usually high level government bureaucrats, put a flashing blue light on their luxury cars and then flagrantly flaunt traffic laws sometimes with devastating results.
In several high profile cases, these VIP’s with their flashing blue lights have caused horrific car accidents with fatalities. Often, the perpetrator is not charged or is given a small fine.The blue lights are seen as an example of the division in Russian society between the elites and the common people.
Sergei Kanayev, a car buff, engineer, lawyer, and provocateur, protests grievances such as high gasoline prices, car-import taxes, bad roads, corrupt police, and especially VIP’s who flaunt traffic laws.
By sticking to popular issues and avoiding affiliation with political parties, Kanayev continues to organize some of the largest demonstrations seen in Russia over the last few years.
The Kremlin has quashed much of its political opposition but allows Kanayev and his followers to continue.
Kanayev, as the head of the Moscow branch of the Russian Federation of Car Owners, organizes caravans to demonstrate for these causes.
Protestors mount blue buckets on their car roof with magnets and then participate in protest caravans The Russian police are at a loss trying to figure out what law is being violated by having a blue bucket on the car roof.
|