Gathering “peacefully and unarmed” is now forbidden in Russia

Source: https://europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article64986

Gathering “peacefully and unarmed” is now forbidden in Russia

Tuesday 6 December 2022,

by Feminist Anti-War Resistance/FAS (Russia)

Do you still remember Article 31 of the Constitution, according to which “citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, to hold meetings, rallies and demonstrations, marches and picketing”? Forget it.

Yesterday Putin signed a law banning rallies and picketing in general. Rallies are now prohibited (https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/140449-8#bh_note) outside government buildings, but also outside airports, train stations, ports, universities, schools, hospitals, and churches. The ban will also apply to areas adjacent to public utilities, such as electricity, heat, water and gas networks. In addition, local authorities will be able to disperse rallies in any other locations based on "historical, cultural, or other objective features.

Human rights activists point out (https://theins.ru/news/257564) that these bans are aimed primarily against solitary pickets, because all other rallies could not be held anywhere without permission as it was.