Previously on April 9 the Moscow Mayor's Office had refused permission to the organisers of the action. The formal grounds for the refusal that the documents had been incorrectly drafted created public uproar. Another appeal on holding a democratic march was forwarded to the Moscow Mayor's Office on April 12. The appeal was signed by the leader of the Russian Democratic YABLOKO Party Grigory Yavlinsky, Chairperson of the Moscow Helsinki Group Ludmila Alexeeva and Chairperson of the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers Valentina Melnikova.

The officials of the Moscow Mayor's Office called a special meeting and decided to permit the march. They also recognised that they had to take into account the public outcry and the reaction of the mass media provoked by the refusal.

The participants of the action plan to march on May 1 along Myasnitskaya street to Lubyanka square and hold a meeting there by the Solovetsky Stone. All Muscovites and guests of the city who also espouse democratic views are invited to participate in the march and the meeting. The columns will be formed at 11.30 a.m., May 1, by Chistiye Prudi metro station (exit to Myasnitskaya street), the march will begin at 12.00; the meeting will begin at Lubyanka square (by the Solovetsky Stone) at approximately 12.45 p.m.

The following organisations planned to participate in the action: the Moscow Helsinki Group, YABLOKO, the Committee-2008, the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS), the movements "For Human Rights," "Common Action", the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers, Greenpeace of Russia, the Common Course group, the Association of Regional Human Rights Organisations, Trade Unions' Centre and Free Trade Unions of Russia, the GOLOS association (For the Protection of Voters' Rights), as well as a dozens of other public organisations and civil organisations.

The meeting in Moscow represents only part of the nationwide action "Civil Society Against a Police State." Marches and meetings in defence of democracy, civil rights and liberties are planned in a number of Russian cities.

All the information on the action is gathered at the official web-site of the "Civil Society Against a Police State" movement:

www.soprotivlenie.info

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