Press Release, 12.04.2023

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

The Saratov regional branch of the Yabloko party intends to appeal in court for the second time the refusal of the Saratov administration to give a permission for a demonstration in the city centre under the slogan “For Peace and Freedom!”.

The first notice of the action was filed by Alexander Soshnikov, Chairman of the Saratov Yabloko, on 23 March. However, the city administration demanded to reduce the number of participants to 50 people, as well as change the place and time of the event. Soshnikov made appropriate amendments to the notification, but the administration again denied the permission referring to other public events taking place at the declared site.

The administration did not offer an alternative venue for the demonstration, as required by law, and so Yabloko went to court. The court declared the refusal of the administration unlawful and ordered the officials to reconsider the previously filed notice.

Then the administration of Saratov proposed to hold a rally in the “hyde park” (a specially designated place where public events can be held without prior notification of the authorities) in a secluded small city garden which is far from the centre. Yabloko had to decline this offer, since the place of the action should be visible to society and the authorities, and the site offered by the administration did not meet these conditions.

On 7 April, when the court had to deliver its judgement, Alexander Soshnikov filed a new notice of a demonstration under the same slogan but for 23 April. However, the administration again refused to approve the action and again did not offer an alternative site.

Currently, the Saratov branch of Yabloko is preparing a second law suit, in which it will ask the court, first, to recognise the administration’s response as not complying with the law and violating the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, in fact restricting the rights and the freedom of expression. Second, to oblige the administration to give its permission for the demonstration. Third, to issue a private definition as regards the actions of the Acting Deputy Head of the Administration for the Social Sphere A. Pazhitayev due to the presence in his actions of signs of an offense under Article 5.38 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of the law on rallies).