Moscow City Hall has authorized an opposition rally in defense of internet freedom to be held later this month.
The application for the march “For a free internet,” filed by the liberal opposition party People’s Freedom Party (PARNAS), had been rejected twice before, with City Hall citing road works at the protest site.
PARNAS said on its website it expects up to 10,000 people to attend the July 23 march against online censorship. The marchers will also demand the release of those detained for liking or sharing social media posts, as well as the resignation of the head of the communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, Alexander Zharov.
The rally will begin at 2 p.m. at central Moscow’s Strastnoi Bulvar and is scheduled to end two hours later at Prospekt Sakharova.
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.