An opposition leader vowed on Tuesday that a two-day rally to support the online election of a leadership council for the opposition would go ahead despite a refusal by City Hall to authorize the event.
Sergei Udaltsov, who heads the Left Front organization, said the "Election Day" gathering would be held on the weekend of Oct. 20 and 21 on Pushkin Square with or without the consent of the authorities.
"We haven't received an official response from City Hall," he? ? on Twitter. "We will push for the event at the declared spot."
Another opposition leader, Denis Bilunov, said City Hall had rejected the application and suggested an alternative site on Krymsky Val, near the Central House of Artists, with a limit of 2,000 attendees, Interfax reported.
Udaltsov, who first proposed the election in January, had wanted to stage the Oct. 20 and 21 rallies from noon to 6 p.m. The online election for the 45-seat council will be held Oct. 21.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.