Press Release, 5.03.2022

Photo: Peace March in 2014. Moscow

The Department of Regional Security of the Moscow government officially refused the Yabloko party to hold the march “For Peace!” both on 12 and 13 March.

A representative of the department informed Andrei Morev, the co-organiser of the action and the Deputy Chairman of the Moscow branch of Yabloko, about this by telephone stating COVID restrictions as the reason for the refusal.

However, on 4 March, the Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin lifted all coronavirus restrictions in Moscow for visiting public catering facilities, theaters, museums, as well as concerts, entertainment, cultural, educational and sports events.

The Yabloko party planned a procession along Moscow boulevards – from Strastnoy boulvard to the intersection of Sakharov Avenue with the Garden Ring. At first, the application was submitted for March 12, but when we learned that political forces of a different orientation also wanted to hold a march on that day, we submitted another application for March 13.

Previously, Yabloko applied for mass anti-war actions in a number of Russian regions, including St. Petersburg. In most cities, the permission was denied. On in Chelyabinsk Yabloko managed to hold a picket in the so-called “hyde park” – a specially designated place for public events which does not require any permissions from the authorities.