Residents of Orsk, the Ural Mountains city most impacted by some of Russias worst flooding in decades,stagedprotests against local authorities perceived inaction on Monday.Much of Orsk was submerged underwater after the Ural River swelled and burst through a dam embankment on Friday, forcing thousands to evacuate.
Russia declared a regionwide state of emergency as water levels continued to rise and threaten the regional capital of Orenburg.Shame! Shame! Shame! the crowd of around 100 was heard shouting in the Orsk central square, according to the Ostorozhno Novosti news channel on Telegram.The outlet said the chants were directed at the local administration over low compensation for property damage and the burst dams structural deficiencies.Regional prosecutors hadwarned residents against staging unauthorized meetings in connection with the floods.According to Ostorozhno Novosti, police attempted to disperse the crowd through orders on a loudspeaker.Some protest leaders wereinvitedfor private negotiations with Orenburg region Governor Denis Pasler, according to the local news outletOrsk.ru.Orsk Mayor Vasily Kozupitsastayedoutside to address the crowd, the outlet said.Another video from the demonstrationshowed parts of the crowd shouting Putin, Help! in an apparent appeal for President Vladimir Putins direct intervention.The Kremlin said that Putin, who ordered a government commission to oversee the flood response, did not plan to visit the damaged area.Earlier footage of federal Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkovsurveying the damage showed a resident criticizing Putins absence.