18:00, 12 January 2011

Moscow authorities ban action in memory of Markelov and Baburova applied for by "Committee of January 19"

The Moscow Mayoralty has refused to coordinate the action applied for by the "Committee of January 19" and dated to the second anniversary of the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova and offered instead to hold a rally in the centre or a march along Taras Shevchenko Embankment.

Earlier, the "Committee of January 19" called for participation of an anti-fascist demonstration in memory of the murder of Markelov and Anastasia Baburova. "The day of January 19, 2011, should be a day of commitment, a day of protest and a day of struggle against the threat of fascism in Russia," runs the appeal of the activists of the Committee.

"The Mayoralty's refusal can have only political reasons and means that Moscow authorities continue systematic violations of citizens' right to the freedom of expression and organization of public actions," runs the Committee's press release.