Quarantine and freedom of assembly in the post -Soviet space

In March, the Russian regions began to limit public events due to coronavirus-at the same time they delayed the participants in single pickets. By April, in many regions, restrictions began to extend to the exit of the house and walks. OTD-Info tells how during the pandemic period they regulate freedom of movement and freedom of assembly in the CIS countries.

Armenia

The state of emergency has been announced in the country since March 16. At first, the number of participants in the permitted public events was installed in 20 people, later the Prime Minister of Armenia urged citizens not to gather not more than two. Rallies, strikes, concerts and cultural events are prohibited. Entrance to the country of people from the risk of coronavirus spread. The authorities urge to leave the house only if there is a clearly formulated important reason and with identity documents.

Azerbaijan

On March 24, special quarantine was introduced. In public places, more than 10 people were forbidden to gather in groups. People over 65 were forbidden to leave the house, limited passenger transportation, entry into large cities. On March 31, the quarantine regime was tightened, the activities of enterprises and structures were suspended that are not related to vital. It is allowed to leave the house only to the store or pharmacy to receive urgent medical care or take out garbage.

Georgia

The emergency has been in force in Georgia since March 21. On March 30, a commandant hour was introduced in the country from 21:00 to 6:00. At this time, you can not move along the street neither pedestrians nor cars. More than three people can be assembled only in grocery stores and pharmacies, but there must be a distance between people. Older people over 70 years old are forbidden to leave at home, with the exception of campaigns to the nearest store, pharmacy or medical institution. Per day from 5 to 6 March, 286 people were fined in the country who violated the emergency mode.

Belarus

If you believe President Alexander Lukashenko, in Belarus, Koronavirus is under control . The championships of the country in football and hockey with spectators in the stands continue, schools are working, large -scale military exercises are planned. Lukashenko offers Coronavirus to fight with a cup, bath and work on a tractor.

In Belarus, opposition protests are rarely coordinated, and the disagreed usually end in police overclocking. There are no additional restrictions due to the epidemic.

“Neither the epidemic has been announced, nor the emergencies have been announced,” says Yana Goncharova, human rights activist, participant in Human Constanta. “Moreover, a few days ago the Ministry of Health of Belarus ceased to give information on the number of infected ones, only the numbers about the tests and the number of people under surveillance and issued.”

Kyrgyz Republic

In early March, the administration of the capital of Kyrgyzstan in the city of Bishkek introduced a ban on public actions in the city center until July 1. But later this ban was lifted by the city court. On March 24, on the territory of Bishkek and some areas, they introduced a state of emergency until April 15. According to his rules, from 20:00 to 7:00 there is a commandant hour, and in the afternoon you can leave the house only to the pharmacy, for groceries or to the medical institution. You must definitely have a passport and a route sheet with you. On March 31, the commandant of Bishkek forbade citizens to gather in the company of more than three people, unless this is members of the same family.

## Kazakhstan

On March 15, a state of emergency was introduced in the country, borders were closed, and air traffic was stopped. Since March 30, nothing has been working in Nursultan and Almaty, except for state bodies, shops, pharmacies, utilities and the media. Meetings are prohibited by the number of more than three people, for the appearance on the street without a clear goal, they promise fines. Religious and state mass festivities were canceled.

A journalist from Almaty Assel Zhanabaeva said that despite quarantine, the lower house of the Kazakhstan parliament continues to work and even tries to adopt a law that restricts the freedom of meetings outside the context of the epidemic:

“Any political activity is prohibited. All this is punishable by fines or administrative arrests. The Ministry of Information and Public Development, contrary to international requirements and recommendations, contrary to the reasoned objections of representatives of civil society during public hearings, decided to “drag” its bill on peaceful meetings, which seriously complicates the possibility of expressing its opinion and rejects Kazakhstan back to communist despotism. ”

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a country with tough autocratic power. Since 2015, the law on coordinated rallies, similar to the Russian one, has been in force, however, human rights activists associate its adoption not with the democratization of the regime, but with the desire of the authorities of Turkmenistan to agree with European partners in gas transactions. There are no news about opposition rallies conducted in accordance with this law.

From March 24, sports competitions have been canceled and fitness clubs have been closed. Until recently, no special measures have been taken. The state arranged mass holidays for employees of budget events, classes in universities and schools continued. Now the massive temperature measurements are reported by the population, the closure of private stores in cities. Spring holidays extended in schools, and concerts of musicians were canceled. According to Radio Liberty, police detain people in the streets for mentioning coronavirus.

Ukraine

From March 12, quarantine was introduced in the country for three weeks, banning mass events with a number of more than 200 people. On March 28, an emergency regime was announced in the country, and quarantine was extended until April 24th. From April 2, additional quarantine restrictions have been introduced : it is forbidden to be on the street without a mask, in the company of more than two people, to visit parks and recreation areas (except for walking pets), conduct cultural and sports events with the number of participants more than 10 people.

Latvia, Estonia

Both countries introduced a state of emergency on March 13. In Latvia, mass meetings were prohibited, including cultural and sporting events, as well as processions and rallies - the number of more than 200 people. Estonia canceled the reception of cruise vessels until May 1, more than 100 people began to be coordinated with the Health Department.

Since March 27, more than two are forbidden to gather in Estonia and on March 29 in Latvia, shopping centers are closed. Sports events, concerts and conferences were canceled. Closed to visit museums, hospitals and prisons. It is necessary to observe the distance between people of two meters.

Lithuania

The emergency regime in Lithuania was introduced on February 26. Since March 16, national quarantine has been operating: foreigners are closed, educational institutions do not work, almost everything is closed except for grocery and pharmacies. All public events in closed rooms are prohibited. Meetings in open spaces with a number of not more than 100 people were initially allowed. At the same time, the distance between people at least a meter was determined, as well as a ban on events for the elderly.

Since April 2, the country has increased the amount of administrative fines for violation of quarantine. Now in Lithuania you can be on the street in groups of no more than two people, excluding families, observe the distance of at least one and a half meters and communicate with other people for no more than 15 minutes.

“From the positive-people are not sent from the country, even if they have ended visas,” says Tasha Pavlova, volunteer at the ATS-Info, stuck in Lithuania because of quarantine. “There are very few people on the streets, most stores are closed, and those that are open are closed at seven in the evening.”