Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin called
for the new law on rallies to be sent back to the State Duma
Committee for revision, while the Council for Human Rights
under the Russian President published an expert assessment
saying that the law violates Russian Constitution, Interfax
reported on June 7.
According to Lukin, "the study of the law has shown
that the document is hasty and contradictory, lacking a strict
concept or clear criteria." "Instead of developing
the procedure for agreeing the terms of public events and
increasing the responsibility of officials for declining to
agree, the focus is on proscriptive and prescriptive measures,"
the statement goes on. It warns that this is "likely
to lead to a rise in the number of un-agreed, radical and
sometimes extremist rallies", while the widely expected
future convictions of rally organisers will "rightly
be seen by citizens as unlawful and sometimes repressive".
All this will "only serve to aggravate the situation
and strengthen the protest sentiment," Lukin warned,
adding that he regarded the adoption of the law in its present
form as "counterproductive" and advised that it
should be returned to the relevant committee of the State
Duma "for a more detailed and broader discussion with
the involvement of the public".
A later Interfax report said the presidential council for
human rights had completed the expert assessment of the law
and published its findings on its official website. It quoted
its statement saying: "The main flaw of the law is that
it in effect provides for the criminalization of the procedure
for using a basic constitutional right, the right to a peaceful
gathering." The statement goes on: "The law does
not conform to the Russian Constitution in the way it was
passed (Article 104 Part 3 of the Russian Constitution was
breached). The law does not conform to the Russian Constitution
in terms of the content of its provisions (Article 31 of the
Russian Constitution was breached)."
Interfax quoted the head of the Council, Mikhail Fedotov,
as saying that the experts' conclusions would be sent to the
Russian president on 8 June.
See also:
Picketing
against toughening of the law on rallies took place in Novosibirsk.
Press Release, June 7, 2012.
Police
stopped the procession to the monument to Pushkin because
of the T-shirts with protest slogans. Press
Release, June 6, 2012.
Activists protesting
against the law on rallies arrested in Volgograd. Press
Service of Volgograd YABLOKO, June 6, 2012.
Pickets against
the law raising fines for rallies has taken place by the Federation
Council. Press Release, June 6, 2012.
YABLOKO
to continue protesting against adoption of the law raising
penalties on rallies by the Federation Council and in Alexander
Gardens by the Kremlin. Press Release, June 5, 2012.
Russian
United Democratic Party leader Sergey Mitrokhin arrested as
"a hooligan". EU Reporter. June 5, 2012
YABLOKO leader and 17
activists arrested by the State Duma. Press Release, June
5, 2012
Mitrokhin
released without charges, other activists will stand before
court. Press Release, May 22, 2012.
Sergei
Mitrokhin and activists detained at the "walking protests"
by the State Duma
Press Release, May 22, 2012.
Sergei
Mitrokhin and activists detained at the "walking protests"
by the State Duma
Press Release, May 22, 2012.
Youth
YABLOKO to picket the State Duma protesting against raising
of fines for rallies
Press Release, May 17, 2012.
Yavlinsky
called on the "walking protestors" in St. Petersburg
to set political goals. Interfax. May 15, 2012
Human
Rights
Freedom
of Assembly
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