Support The Moscow Times!

Minor Rally Curbs Signed Into Law

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.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more