Tens Of Thousands Protest Putin At Anti-War Rally In Moscow

The riot, ahead of Sunday's referendum on whether Crimea should leave Ukraine and join Russia, was not broadcast by Russia's state-owned television news channels.

Tens of thousands gathered in Moscow on Saturday to protest a referendum backed by the Kremlin in which Crimea would leave Ukraine and join Russia.

It's the largest anti-government rally in Russia since 2012, and was attended by two members of Pussy Riot, according to the Associated Press.

Attendees waved both Russian and Ukrainian flags, and chanted, "Say no to war" and "Putin, go away."

Nearby, several thousand rallied in support of Russia in the "Brotherhood and Civil Resistance March" and wore red.

Russia's state-owned television news channels only showed footage from the smaller, pro-Russian rally, and not the anti-war, anti-government one.

"Don't believe it when they say that we are few, that we are weak," said Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, a member of Pussy Riot, during the rally. "Together we will change this country."

The referendum, which will be held Sunday, has been criticized internationally as illigitimate.

Troops believed to be Russian entered Crimea two weeks ago, and Russia's state-owned television news stations have alleged there has been aggression toward ethnic Russians living in the peninsula.

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