Tens of thousands march in Moscow anti-war protest but others back Crimean referendum
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Tens of thousands have gathered in downtown Moscow in the largest anti-government demonstration since 2012, protesting against Sunday's Kremlin-backed referendum in Crimea on whether to break away from Ukraine and merge with Russia.
Demonstrators waved Russian and Ukrainian flags on Saturday while opposition activists — including the two members of the punk band Pussy Riot who served prison terms for an anti-government stunt — shouted "Say no to war!" and "Putin, go away!" from a stage.
Not far away near the Kremlin, several thousand people dressed in matching red costumes marched in formation to show their support for Russian intervention in the region.
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Support for reclaiming Crimea, where a majority of residents speak Russian, has intensified amid relentless state television coverage of the region.