In Krasnodar Territory, oppositionists criticize territorial law on assemblies

As stated by activists of the non-parliamentary opposition, amendments to the territorial law on assemblies had been adopted in the Krasnodar Territory without any broad discussion; therefore, the law is now highly restrictive. The amendments were intended to harmonise the local legislation with the federal one, said Marina Alexandrova, a lawyer from the Krasnodar-based "Centre of Justice".

The amendments to the territorial law "On Ensuring Conditions for Implementing Citizens' Right to Hold Assemblies, Rallies, Demonstrations, Marches and Pickets" were adopted by the Deputies of the Legislative Assembly on November 28, at the third session of the new convocation.

According to the amendments, the list of places banned for public events has been complemented and now includes tunnels, overpasses, bridges, railway stations and airports, sidewalks, trading-entertainment centres, educational establishments, mosques and churches, and construction sites.

Rallies and pickets are forbidden at the distance closer than 50 meters from the borders of the above objects and buildings occupied by state bodies and organs of local self-government.

The amendments also assume allocation of "specially provided" places for public events – a sort of the London Hyde Park. Organizers of a rally or picket shall inform in writing – not earlier than 10 and not later than 3 days prior to the event – the respective administration.

The amended law notes that public events up to 100 strong, held in allocated places, require no notification.

The new territorial document also prescribes the rules: in case of solo pickets the distance between adjacent picketers shall be at least 50 meters; and the norm for specially allocated places is one square meter per participant.

Sergey Obukhov, a communist MP of the State Duma and deputy chair of the committee for public associations and religious organizations, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that public actions are now practically impossible in central Krasnodar, at the territorial or city administrations.

Professor Mikhail Savva, Doctor of Political Sciences, believes that the law is correct only if "the possibility to hold rallies without notification will not exclude the possibility to hold rallies in other parts of Krasnodar and other cities." The expert believes that the authorities "are trying to move the noticeable protest activities to the places where nobody will see them."