Translated material
Freedom of assembly: media digest (July 22-28)
international reaction
The United States calls for respect for the rights of members of the LGBT community regarding freedom of assembly
“We urge Russia to uphold its international commitments to freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of speech now and in the future,” she [State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki] said when asked by reporters whether US authorities were going to respond. to introduce a law in Russia banning gay propaganda among minors.”
British press on Russia's violation of the rights of the LGBT community regarding freedom of assembly
"Guardian", July 24 : (translation - "InoPressa" ):
“The Russian ban on “homosexual propaganda” is striking in its disrespect for the fundamental principles of democracy: freedom of speech, assembly and association. The most fundamental right... of lesbians and gays in every democracy in the world is to be able to express themselves and advocate for changes in the law by holding peaceful demonstrations and forming associations aimed at persuading the heterosexual majority to change their minds.”
"Strategy-31"
The action on Triumfalnaya Square was once again not approved
“According to him [Eduard Limonov], he was informed about the decision, in violation of the law, seven days after filing the notification instead of the required three.
Limonov said that he and his supporters would hold the rally in any case. “Out of duty and at the call of my heart, I will come to Triumfalnaya on July 31 immediately after 18.00, to insist on the right of Russian citizens to gather peacefully in the squares and streets of the country,” the politician wrote.”
The prosecutor's office warns participants of "Strategy-31"
“The Prosecutor’s Office of the Central Administrative District of Moscow sent warnings to the organizers of the Strategy-31 action, Vladimir Bukovsky, Konstantin Kosyakin, Eduard Limonov and Lolita Tsaria, the department’s press service reports. <…> “The action was not approved by the Moscow government, since its organizers were brought to administrative responsibility more than twice during the year for violating the established procedure for organizing or holding public events. Despite this, calls for participation in an unauthorized rally and demonstration are being spread on the Internet ", the prosecutor's office said."
In Nizhny Novgorod they want to appeal the refusal to hold an event within the framework in court
“ProCity of Nizhny Novgorod”, July 23 :
“The response sent to the city administration also contains a warning from the head of the administration of Nizhny Novgorod Oleg Kondrashov that “in connection with systematic and gross violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation on rallies, the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms”, ratified by the Russian Federation “Citizens see signs of malfeasance in his actions, therefore they will demand that Kondrashov be brought to criminal responsibility.”
LGBT
In Moscow, a district court upheld the ban on gay pride as legal.
“Federal Judge Ilmira Mustafina agreed with the arguments of representatives of the Moscow Government about the impossibility of ensuring the safety of participants in the declared events, and also with the fact that holding actions could undermine the morality of minors. Let us recall that previously the legality of bans on public events of the May Gay Pride was recognized by the Tagansky District Court of Moscow in relation to pickets, the Preobrazhensky District Court of Moscow in relation to a rally in Sokolniki Hyde Park, and the Khimki City Court of the Moscow Region in relation to a rally and procession in Khimki.”
In Kazan, the court recognized the legal refusal to approve pickets in defense of LGBT rights
“On June 26, the head of the Kazan executive committee, Denis Kalinkin, notified the applicant of the refusal to approve the holding of 4 pickets, citing that the goals of the planned public events did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the legislation of the Russian Federation. The executive committee considered that the purpose of the pickets was “propaganda of homosexuality and lesbianism,” and the latter could be classified as information harmful to the health and development of children, as well as denying family values. Dmitry was even summoned to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kazan, where they dissuaded him from holding events and participating in them. Nevertheless, on June 29 and 30, the young man went out on a single picket with a poster on Bauman Street to the Chaliapin monument (single picketing does not require approval). After that he was taken to the police department.”
nationalists
Activists and journalists traveling to a public gathering in Tver were detained
“Echo of Moscow in St. Petersburg”, July 28 :
“In addition to journalists, the leader of the Civil Committee Olga Kurnosova and Moscow activist Alexander Amelin are on the bus, Bondarik said. The latter was detained for violating his recognizance not to leave. Meanwhile, ex-deputy of the Tver City Duma Vyacheslav Zhigarev was detained in Tver.”
Picket participants in support of Pugachev residents detained in Saratov
“The picketers took to the street with posters: “We demand to ensure the safety of the residents of Pugachev” and “The employees who cover up the murderers of Marzhanov are brought to justice!” The picketers were taken to the police.”
Roizman
In Yekaterinburg, four Roizman supporters were detained during a campaign rally
“The meeting in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Ural Heavy Engineering Plant, or in common parlance Uralmash, did not have any political overtones at all. However, there were some arrests there. Several people came to the event with posters in support of Yevgeny Roizman in the mayoral elections. They stood separately and when the police reprimanded them, they stopped the campaign. However, three [as it turned out later, four] people were detained.”
“As one of the detainees, Natalya Maksimova, told us, the police attacked a family peacefully walking, who had a poster with them: “Roizman. Friend versus foe,” reports a Znak.com correspondent. “It’s terrible, we were just walking with minor children - me, my daughter Irina, her children 14 and 3 years old! Our brother-in-law and his brother were with us. As soon as the cops saw it, something terrible began,” says Natalya. “The kids were released, but Irina is very worried - they’ve been harassing her for several hours, as if on purpose!” She's on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I’m afraid she might have a maternal tantrum – two minor children unattended!”
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A spontaneous protest against the demolition of stalls was dispersed in Samara
“Arguments and Facts - Samara”, July 25 :
“The spontaneous rally, organized by trade workers, blocked the city’s main thoroughfare, Aurora Street, for almost half an hour. Ultimately, the police managed to restore order, and then the demolition continued under the protection of law enforcement officers. The authorities' reaction to the civil disobedience was immediate. The police, using video from surveillance cameras, identified four instigators, against whom a report was drawn up and the case was sent to court.”
Three participants in an uncoordinated action against the RAS reform were detained in Kostroma
“On Friday, a picket of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation against the reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences was held in the central square of Kostroma. Ten people took part in it with flags and posters. The police officers asked them to disperse, but three of the protesters did not listen. “Seven people dispersed after that, and three continued picketing. Then they were taken to the district department to draw up protocols under Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, and one disobeyed the police officers and was forcibly brought in. A protocol was drawn up against him under Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses,” the agency’s interlocutor said "
In Kirov, the police did not allow Communist Party activists to carry a coffin to the regional government building
“...the participants failed to carry the coffin along the alley on Oktyabrsky Prospekt. They were stopped by police officers who saw signs of a march as they walked and warned them that they were breaking federal law. After this, the activists promised to put the coffin with the stuffed Belykh in the car and, accompanied by a police officer, they went to her. Turning onto McLean Street, the protesters reached the desired car, attracting curious glances from passers-by. As soon as the “coffin” ended up in VAZ 21099, one of the policemen approached the activists, saying that after the rally he would like to continue the conversation with them at the station, to which the protesters objected: an official summons is needed.”
In Orel, the authorities do not want to coordinate the demonstration and rally of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation
“At first they refused to allow a demonstration and meeting of the Communist Party on Lenin Square - there was an urgent need for karting competitions and it was at that time. Okay, [Duma deputy Vasily] Ikonnikov went to Deputy Governor I. Garmash to coordinate a new route. We agreed that the demonstration would take place on August 4 from the monument to Komsomol heroes to the Tankers Park, and a festive rally would take place there. The city organization of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation sent a corresponding letter to the Orel administration. But then city manager M. Bernikov began to “flex his fingers”, who, as you know, cannot even sneeze without the approval of the “Grey House”: on this day, they say, there are already so many events, so there is no need for any demonstrations, but then you will interfere with traffic. That’s why I don’t agree with a rally in Tankers Park; limit it to the area in front of the monument to Komsomol members.”
In Kamchatka, at the last moment, a rally against juvenile justice was banned
“Arguments and Facts - Kamchatka”, July 26 :
“A few minutes ago I got a call from the city administration and they said that we couldn’t hold a rally near the Rollerdrome. I had to send the people who came to the rally back home... said Roman Zaisanov, the organizer of the event . “The authorities themselves offered us this site. Therefore, I thought that there would be no problems with permission for the rally. But I was wrong. Although even if the action had taken place, we would have been huddled on the roadway and construction site where concrete trucks go... The owner of the Rollerdrome said that his paved area is not a place for rallies... It’s a shame, of course, that everything had to be cancelled. Several dozen people would come here today.”
Two participants in an uncoordinated rally in support of a beaten traffic police officer were detained in Ivanovo
“As reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Ivanovo region, according to preliminary estimates, about 250 people took part in the unauthorized public event. To maintain public order, 40 police officers were sent to the rally site. As a result, police officers drew up administrative protocols under Part 5 of Art. for two active participants in the unauthorized event. 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation – “Violation by a participant of a public event of the established procedure for holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing.”
In Neryungri, workers were not allowed to picket
“On July 22, the administration of the city of Neryungri refused the picketers for the second time. Without expressing any complaints about the timing of filing the notification, the mayor’s office responded that the notification “does not indicate the forms and methods of ensuring public order by the organizers, or the intention to use sound recording equipment.” It is also indicated that the application does not contain the names of persons “performing administrative functions in organizing and conducting a public event.”
The picket in Neryungri still took place
“On July 26, on the third attempt, workers of the Neryungri Automobile Technological Transport Depot (ATA), supported by workers of other branches of OJSC Holding Company Yakutugol, held a silent picket on the sidewalk near the company’s office. Previously, the picket was planned for July 22 and 24, but was not permitted by the administration of the city of Neryungri.”
freedom of assembly in the regions
About Hyde parks in the Tver region
“When allocating seats in the regional centers of the Tver region, the authorities mainly followed the principle of “one or two seats in the municipality.” And the population is not so large, and everything is visible. True, there are exceptions. For example, in Kuvshinovo, Toropets, Peno, Kimry there are four “Hyde parks”. What is remarkable about such places from the point of view of public expression of one's opinion? Firstly, up to 100 people can be brought into the square without notifying the authorities about the action. Secondly, the maximum number of rally participants in the specified places is calculated according to the norm of 0.75 square meters. m per person, or 5 people per 4 sq. m. Thirdly, you can express your opinion from 7 to 22 hours. And finally, no one forbids coordinating various actions in other places, but it will be better for everyone if the next picket against increasing the cost of housing and communal services takes place at the specified addresses.”
Read also:
Freedom of assembly: media digest (July 15-21, 2013)
The ratio of protest activity in the capital and in the regions is in a new expert report; the reaction of the authorities and the consequences of protests on the day of the announcement of the verdict of oppositionist Alexei Navalny, in the weekly review of OVD-Info
Freedom of assembly: media digest (8-14 July 2013)
The joint public monitoring group in St. Petersburg, the prospects for holding actions in defense of Navalny in Russian cities, the interaction of LGBT activists with the authorities - in the weekly review prepared by OVD-Info