The interim Moscow city government has authorized the opposition to rally on Triumfalnaya Ploshchad after denying 11 similar requests since 2009, Interfax said Wednesday.
But the protesters are only permitted to rally on Oct. 31 at the back of the square, and the number of participants must be limited to 200, not 1,500 as originally requested, said Lyudmila Alexeyeva, an organizer of the event.
Opposition activists attempt to hold rallies on the 31st of each month to draw attention to Article 31 of the Constitution, which grants freedom of assembly.
Last week, Kremlin deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov spoke against the ban on Triumfalnaya rallies. But a request for a similar event in St. Petersburg was rejected by city authorities Wednesday, Interfax said.
(MT)
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.
