The Moscow City Hall refused to allow students to hold a rally against political pressure. Instead, a public discussion will be held in the “Pit”

The Moscow Mayor's Office refused to agree on a rally against political pressure on students and universities, which the organizers were going to hold on August 30 in the Pit public space on Khokhlovskaya Square, student magazine DOXA told Novaya Gazeta.

“We hoped that the authorities’ calls to ‘act within the law’ would lead to the ‘dialogue’ that the same authorities are constantly calling for, but on August 27, Judge Karzhavina dismissed our claim for non-coordination of the action,” the students said.

“We will appeal this decision after the action, because our right to assemble peacefully and without weapons has been violated again.”

The organizers of the rally announced that they had decided to change the format of the event at the Pit - instead of a rally, there would be a public discussion about the place of politics at the university.

After a short lecture part, there will be a public talk with university activists who will talk about the experience of public campaigns, including initiatives in support of the defendants in the “case 212”. The discussion will close with musical performances.

“We encourage everyone to come to start this important conversation about the university community, but please refrain from slogans, posters and chanting - we will not be able to ensure the safety of visitors to the Pit this evening,” the organizers said.

The defendants in the criminal case initiated after the uncoordinated rally in the center of Moscow on July 27 are 14 people. Among them are students Egor Zhukov (Higher School of Economics), Daniil Konon (MSTU named after Bauman), Valery Kostenok (RSU named after Kosygin) and MIPT graduate Aidar Gubaidulin.