RUSSIA: MOSCOW: PRO AUSTRIAN JOERG HAIDER RALLY

Описание: (20 Feb 2000) Russian/Nat

Several hundred demonstrators have marched through downtown Moscow in a show of a support for Austrian Joerg Haider and his far-right Freedom Party.

The Extreme Right National Front, a little known political group, organised the rally to demand a stop to what they say is a campaign of lies directed at Haider.

Demonstrations against Joerg Haider's Freedom Party joining the Austrian government have become a near daily event in Vienna since the new coalition took office on February 4.

But on Sunday, the streets of Moscow were filled with demonstrators showing support for Haider and his party.

The predominantly young demonstrators chanted "Osterreich, Frei Parteit" (Austrian Freedom Party) in German, while marching through the snowy Moscow streets.

The rally was organised by the little-known Extreme Right National Front party.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We are outraged by the flow of lies and intimidation against the Austrian Freedom Party and its leader Joerg Haider. We consider the will of the Austrian nation sacred and we think that is more than a quarter of the Austrian citizens voted for that party. It is their choice and it must be respected. We consider the reaction from the USA, Israel and the European Union countries inappropriate."
SUPERCAPTION: Ilya Lazarenko, Extreme Right National Front leader

In defence of Haider, one protester said it was the people of Austria who voted for the members of his party.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"It is against the constitution to try to cancel the people's will expressed in their voting. I don't think anyone would dare saying that elections in well-to-do Austria were rigged."
SUPER CAPTION: Pavel, Pro-Haider protester

Moscow city authorities allowed the rally to set off from the seat of the Russian government at the White House to the Stalin-era skyscraper housing the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Joerg Haider and his Freedom Party have caused an uproar in Europe and across the globe, but Russian officials have taken a cautious line, avoiding direct criticism of Haider.

Last week Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, commenting on the situation in Austria, told reporters that he believed in Austrian democracy.

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