MOSCOW, October 8 - RAPSI. The Investigative Committee, Russia's federal investigative bureau, has launched a probe into certain claims made by the documentary "Anatomy of Protest-2," including the claim that opposition activist Sergei Udaltsov is planning a coup aided by foreign funds and foreign militants, committee spokesman Vladimir Markin, told journalists Saturday.
Earlier, a decision to audit the claims made by the film was made by the Prosecutor General's Office. The opposition figures themselves have denied that they plan to use force in their actions, but do say that they will be increasing their efforts in organizing peaceful protests.
United Russia lawmakers have also called for the film's review and are planning to file a request in this regard to the law enforcement authorities early next week.
The film was shown on NTV, which is owned by state-run gas giant Gazprom, last Thursday and provoked a strong public reaction. The film makers allege that the opposition is plotting to wage a coup d'etat using funds from abroad. The film shows a conversation between Sergei Udaltsov, coordinator of the Left Front, and his supporters with Georgian parliamentary Defense and Security Committee head Givi Targamadze, who allegedly has experience in organizing the "color revolutions" in Georgia and Ukraine, as well as mass riots in Belarus.
The first part of the film aired in March. The filmmakers claimed that some people are paid to attend the opposition rallies. The film showed the "White Ring" opposition event on February 26, when thousands of people wearing white ribbons, white balloons or other white items joined hands with each other all along Moscow's Garden Ring, a large circular boulevard that frames the city center.
According to Udaltsov, the opposition does not plan to use force as described in the film, but will be stepping up its peaceful protest activities and be working fast to hold another March of Millions in early December.