Thousands of Russian Communists took to the streets of Moscow on Wednesday in a Labour Day march tinged with nostalgia.
In the shadow of Soviet Union founder, Vladimir Lenin, many looked back fondly on the Soviet era as a period of stability.
Taking part in the march, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said the country's future depended on people taking to the streets to make their voices heard.
In a separate rally, Nationalists gathered to highlight concerns over immigrants, who they accused of undercutting Russian wages.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHAIRMAN OF RUSSKIE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT SUPERVISORY BOARD ALEXANDER BELOV, SAYING:
"Today is the national Labour Day, it's a holiday. The biggest difference from the left's (Communists) May 1 is that we we don't think that Russia is for all, but that it is, first and foremost for Russians. We don't want crowds of immigrants. Our people have to work for decent pay, our young people should be able to buy a flat,
