The Ufa mayor's office refused to allow the StopBashRTS public movement to hold a rally against high heating prices. This was announced by the chairman of the movement, Albert Rakhmatullin.
The reason for this was the current decree of the head of Bashkortostan on the introduction of a “high alert” regime due to coronavirus.
Activists decided to apply to hold a rally after was held a pro-government rally in Ufa on January 26 in support of the head of the region, Radiy Khabirov. Authorities said that about 50 thousand people took part in it. On the eve of the event, screenshots of correspondence in chats appeared on social networks, where state employees and students were gathering to go to the rally.
“Since we still have a coronavirus pandemic in our republic, does it mean that Radiy Khabirov specially gathered 50 thousand people from all over the region in the square so that they could all infect each other and go to the regions to further spread the infection?” Rakhmatullin wrote.
Activists have been trying to achieve a rally against high heating prices for three years, but each time they are refused due to coronavirus restrictions, Rakhmatullin added.