Amnesty International called on Sobyanin to resolve the rallies of "disagreements"

The influential human rights organization of Amnesty International appealed to the new mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin to protect the right of citizens to peaceful meetings, according to a common press release from the organization, RIA Novosti said.

“We urge the Moscow authorities to decide on the planned demonstration in defense of Article 31 (the Constitution of the Russian Federation), which would fully comply with the national legislation and respond to freedom of assembly, which is guaranteed by the European Court of Human Rights,” said John Dalheisen, deputy head of the Amnesty International program.

Sobyanin took office as mayor of Moscow on October 21. One of the first problems that he encountered as the mayor was the situation around the next rally planned on October 31 in defense of the 31st article of the Russian Constitution.

The Moscow authorities proposed opposition to hold a rally involving no more than 200 people on the section of the Triumphal Square between the Beijing Hotel and Brest Street. However, the applicants insist on shares involving 1.5 thousand people and sent a letter to the city hall with a request to allow a rally on the triumphal square on the site near the Monument to Mayakovsky.

The Moscow authorities explained that they cannot satisfy the requirements of the rally organizers, since for this they will be forced to violate the law and investment obligations.

Activists of opposition movements have never received permission to a rally in defense of the 31st article of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which refers to the right to hold meetings, rallies and demonstrations. However, they regularly, each 31st, organize inconsistent shares on the triumphal square, which are often accompanied by violations of public order and suppressed by the police. These events periodically cause a large public outcry.

The Triumphal Square was closed for reconstruction. It provides for the construction of parking in the framework of the Big Leningradka reconstruction program from Manezhnaya Square to the Moscow Ring Road, as well as according to the Decree "On Restoration with the adaptation for the modern requirements of the Beach-Office complex" Beijing "and the integrated development of the adjacent territory, which was adopted by the Moscow Government in 2002. At the end of September, archaeological work began there.

The International Amnesty also recalled the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, condemning the ban on gay parades in Moscow, indicating that this problem lies in the same plane.

“This decision of the ECHR is confirmed by the fact that the right to peaceful meetings in Moscow is violated in recent years. This serves as an important reminder that this right should be able to use all people in Moscow, without discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, skin, language, religious, political or other beliefs,” Dalheisen emphasized.

He referred to the wording from the decision of the Strasbourg Court, who called on the Moscow authorities not to use the possibility of public unrest or violence against the protesters as an excuse for the ban on marches, and instead it is better to ensure the safety of their implementation.

On Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg granted the lawsuit of one of the leaders of the Russian gay of Nikolai Alekseev, recognizing the ban on gay parades in Moscow illegal.

In accordance with the court decision, violations of Articles 11 (freedom of assembly and associations), 13 (the right to an effective means of legal protection) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

By his decision, the court ordered the Russian side to pay Alekseev an amount of 12 thousand euros, as well as reimburse costs of 17.5 thousand euros.