Quote of the day and a study in contrasts

"The much-praised middle class … who were behind the protests never threatened Putin with strikes. The reason was simple: The city could happily live with those people striking."

- Dmitri Babich

This photograph illustrates a New Zealand Herald story about anti-Putin protests that took place in Red Square yesterday

And this one was taken last Thursday 24th May in the same place. This is a small part of tens of thousands who assembled on the feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Led by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and the Archbishop of Athens and all Hellas Jerome, they celebrated the the Day of Slavic Written Language and Culture in Moscow.

And whereas the later event may not be of particular interest to Herald readers you might wonder  why the former one is of particular significance to the editors of that esteemed paper.