Deputies were allowed to freely meet with voters in courtyards and Hyde parks

A press release was published on the website of the Constitutional Court about the decision, in which the Constitutional Court speaks about recent amendments that oblige deputies to coordinate their meetings with voters with the executive branch. In accordance with these amendments, in the summer in Moscow, municipal deputy Alexandra Andreeva was fined, who spoke about the renovation at a meeting with local residents. True, in October the fine was canceled. The full text of the ruling of the Constitutional Court has not yet been made public, and it is difficult to catch the details, but the press release suggests that the Constitutional Court does not consider these amendments to be contrary to the Constitution. The decision in its summarized form, at the request of OVD-Info, is commented by lawyer Maxim Sorokin.

On November 10, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation ruled on the constitutionality of the June amendments to federal legislation, which oblige deputies of all levels to coordinate their meetings with voters with executive authorities if they are held in the form of a public event. True, people's representatives have some "head start" and can notify about a meeting with voters 5 days (usually - 10 days) before it is held.

We note, firstly, that the Constitutional Court clarified the scope of public events that can be used to hold meetings of deputies with the population - these are meetings that do not require approval, and rallies. That is, applications for demonstrations, marches and pickets are submitted by deputies on an equal basis with other citizens.

At the same time, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation allowed meetings of deputies with voters not only in the premises and in the courtyards of residential buildings, but also in specially designated areas. Moreover, such hyde parks, as stipulated by the Constitutional Court, should be in every municipality, located in an accessible place for citizens and can be used by all political forces who wish.

In addition, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, agreeing with the position of the Ministry of Justice, emphasized that the legislation on assemblies does not apply to the so-called. "spontaneous meetings" initiated by the voters themselves (as long as it does not endanger the safety of meeting participants and infrastructure facilities).

Finally, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation also habitually reminded that the executive authorities cannot allow or prohibit parliamentary rallies at their own discretion, and must give “strong reasons” to justify their refusal. It remains to be hoped that the emergence of the figure of the applicant-bearer of public authority will contribute to raising the "standard of proof" by the executive authorities of their actions, including decisions to refuse.