The staff of the Government of the Moscow Region interfered
with YABLOKO’s one-man picketing in front of their building.
YABLOKO protests against virtual introduction of a ban on
one-man pickets which has been initiated by the Moscow Region
Duma.
The parliament of the Moscow Region submitted to the State
Duma a draft law stipulating that one-man pickets (in addition
to demonstrations, rallies and group pickets) should be
not only coordinated with the authorities but organisers
of such pickets should also submit the plan and schedule
of such picketing. Activists of the Moscow Region branch
of YABLOKO call one-man picketing the only form of street
protest which has been available, as normally the authorities
ban rallies and pickets with a large number of participants
under faked pretexts.
About 11 a.m. an unidentified persons tore out a placard
“Ban on One-Man Pickets - a Disgrace of the Moscow Region
Authorities” from YABLOKO’s picketing activist and disappeared
with it in the office of the Government of the Moscow Region.
The police did not even attempt to detain this person, moreover
YABLOKO’s activists were not allowed to follow him.
Today’s picket was timed to the session of the regional
government devoted to the results of 2009 and goals for
2010. Representatives of the federal power bodies and heads
of the districts of the region were also to participate
in the session.
YABLOKO’s activists decided to suspend picketing and resume
it at the same place at 2 p.m.
Last week YABLOKO’s activists protested against ban on
one-man picketing by the Moscow Region Duma building. After
the action was over, the police detained the participants
and the activists were fined by a court.
See also:
Human
Rights
Freedom
of Speech
