Russian citizens called for
Vladimir Putin to “stand down” as they protested in the streets of
Moscow following the
fire of a shopping mall in
Kemerovo that killed at least 64 people, it has emerged.
Footage in Moscow shows a massive crowd gathering together in Pushkinskaya Square and chanting together.
The desperate plea for Mr Putin to stand down marked an unfamiliar instance of public protest against the newly elected leader.
A rally in the city centre of Kemerovo saw citizens holding up pictures of those killed in the fire.
Signs being held up demonstrated the clear distrust between the city’s people and its leadership.
One read: “How many really died?"
Another said: "Who's really guilty?"
A third questioned: "How much do your closed eyes cost?"
Further signs demanded Mr Putin stand down as the leader of the superpower as screams of “resign” could be heard.
Following the devastating fire, it emerged that safety regulations of the building had been breached.
It was discovered that fire exits to the mall had been blocked and an alarm system that did not function properly.
According to Alexander Batrykin, the head of the
Russian Investigative Committee, the system had been out of order since March 19.
It has been reported that out of the 64 dead in the fire, 41 of those were children.
Mr Putin visited victims of the fire and stated that those responsible were guilty of “criminal negligence”.
He went on: "This isn't war, it's not an unexpected methane explosion at a coal mine.
“People came to relax, children. We're talking about demography and losing so many people.
"The first emotion when hearing about the number of dead and dead children is not to cry but to wail. And when you listen to what has been said here, speaking honestly, other emotions arise."
Moscow has declared that today will be an official time of mourning.