TODAY: Occupy Old Square protest dispersed; ‘Defenders of Moscow’ march commemorated; United Russia’s waning support; party employing poster and facebook trickery?  Just Russia leader makes clear his opposition to Putin; Khodorkovsky vows never to admit guilt; Gadaffi-Bout connection; cyber-espionage findings worry US; baby boxes; St Petersburg culture refurb.

The New York Times reports on how Kremlin critics putting on an ‘Occupy Wall Street’ style protest in Moscow over next month’s parliamentary election has been dispersed by police.  The small number of protestors present were apparently overshadowed by the other congregation of the day, the re-enactment of a Red Square military parade in 1941, following which soldiers marched until they reached the front lines and began battle with the invading Germans.  Another historical anniversary, that of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, was marked in the region of Irkutskby by 400 protestors decrying United Russia and demanding the resignation of Russia’s leadership.  According to this article, a Levada poll has shown that Prime Minister Putin’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade and support for his ruling party dropped sharply over the past week.  The party of ‘crooks and thieves’ has been called up for producing posters almost identical to those used by elections officials to encourage people to vote in Moscow in an apparent attempt at subliminal advertising.  Has the party invented a Facebook page for Volgograd’s Motherland monument to sing its praises?