Press release, 11.12.2018

Yabloko MP in the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly Boris Vishnevsky called upon the interim governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov to investigate the decision of the Committee on the Rule of Law, Law Enforcement and Security not to authorise a rally in support of political prisoners. According to the MP, the City Administration refused to authorise the action on the pretext that another event (a campaign to encourage local residents to donate blood) had already been authorised in that area at the same day and time.

Boris Vishnevsky

The organiser of the rally in support of political prisoners Vladimir Belyakov and his colleagues were offered to hold the action in a remote area. They refused to do so and decided to attend the action that promote blood donation. However, when the activists arrived there it turned out that no action was held there. The activists took pictures and recorded videos of the area as proof.

Boris Vishnevsky insists that the right to the freedom of assembly was violated.

“There can be two explanations of what has happened. First: they did nit plan to hold any cation to promote blood donation. They just needed a pretext not to authorise a rally in support of political prisoners. So, they deliberately misinformed people. Second: they planned to hold an action to promote blood donation. However, it did not take place, and the means that were allocated for it were embezzled,” Vishnevsky said.