"Hyde Parks" are allowed in Sochi

Vladimir Putin allowed meetings, rallies and demonstrations in the Olympic Sochi. The organizers of the rallies will have to negotiate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB

Vladimir Putin made changes to the decree on the strengthening of security measures during the Olympic Games in Sochi. This change formally looks revolutionary - and at the same time continues the logic of events that mark some of the relief of repressive domestic policy . Following the liberation of the iconic political prisoners- Mikhail Khodorkovsky (pardon) and participants in the punk group Pussy Riot Nadezhda Tolokonnnikova and Maria Alekhina (amnesty), as well as ecologists from the Arctic Sunrise vessel (amnesty), signed by Putin, formally resolves the assembly, rally and demonstrations In the Olympic Sochi.

Already now, safety measures in Sochi are so harsh that it is impossible to get there without a set of permits

It must be recalled that many politicians and public figures the above actions of the Russian authorities were taken precisely as demonstrative measures designed to reduce protest moods before games in Sochi . True, many other issues remain “hot”, for example, a 3-year-old “detention” Ecologist Evgeny Vitishko . In addition, it is completely incomprehensible who exactly will rally in the Olympic Sochi? Indeed, now, safety measures in Sochi are so harsh that it is impossible to get there without a set of permits. For stay in the city, registration is required for a record short time (from three days), fans must have not only pre -purchased tickets, but also the so -called "fan passport", which will not be given anyone without a ticket. Local residents or participants of the Olympic delegations remain, who are unlikely to contact the local authorities for permission to rallies or other shares.

So, for any action, those who wish should contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB, and the rally will be allowed on a specially selected site. According to RIA Novosti , amendments to the presidential decree say: “To establish that in the territory and in the water area, within which enhanced security measures, meetings, rallies, demonstrations, processions and pickets that are not related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games are introduced, can be held in places and (or) along the routes of the participants in January 7 to March 21, 2014. public event, with the number of participants and in the temporary interval determined by the administration of the municipality of the city resort city of Sochi in agreement with the relevant territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the relevant territorial security body. "

The decree "On the application of security measures during the 2014 Olympics" was signed by Vladimir Putin on August 19. In early December, the Federal Security Service proposed to allow protesting shares during the 2014 Olympics. At the same time, the FSB gave explanations: the number, route and duration of the action should be agreed with the city authorities, the local police and with the security authorities. In the initial version of the decree, mass shares for the period of the Olympics were prohibited.

It turns out that, having allowed protest promotions even with almost irresistible restrictions, the Russian government significantly corrects the call of the IOC

Such a decision of the "Olympic-political question" has a historical analogue. In 2008, during the Summer Games in Beijing, the Chinese government created a protest near the Olympic objects. But these zones were not used for their intended purpose.

And the International Olympic Committee sent to the National Olympic Committee the member countries of the Winter Games 2014 in Sochi special letters with a reminder that all kinds of protests were prohibited during the Olympiads. The letter notes that these rules are established for the security of the game participants. It turns out that, having allowed protest actions even with almost insurmountable restrictions, the Russian government significantly corrects the calls of the IOC. Apparently, in this way it is emphasized that the safety of the Olympiad participants is fully guaranteed. After Volgograd terrorist attacks, this is quite significant.