President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday signed into law a bill that would put minor restrictions on rallies involving cars and oblige rally organizers to apply for permission, the Kremlin said.
The law requires rally organizers to inform authorities about rallies involving cars three days in advance, or four days if the day of the rally is on a weekend, the Kremlin said in a statement.
An earlier version of the bill, drafted by the pro-Kremlin United Russia and A Just Russia parties, was vetoed by Medvedev in early November over harsh restrictions on rallies.
The initial draft banned rallies organized by people convicted of minor administrative offenses and banned organizers from informing the public about their plans, including the theme of a rally, until local authorities had approved the date and place of the event.
The earlier bill also proposed that local authorities set rules for rallies involving cars — a measure that appeared to target so-called “blue bucket” car rallies held by motorists opposing the use of flashing blue lights by top officials.
The new law allows regional laws to regulate rallies involving cars.