In Astrakhan, participants of "Strategy 31" are indignant with refusal to picket at "Gazprom" office

The campaigners of "Strategy 31", about 20 in number, held their rally on January 31 in Astrakhan. They believe that the city administration had violated their rights by banning their picket in front of the office of the "Gazprom".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that actions in defence of Article 31 of the Constitution are held in Astrakhan since July 2009; the article vests citizens with the right to freely and peacefully assemble to express their opinions. Similar actions in the framework of the so-called "Strategy-31" campaign are held in other Russian cities of the 31st day of each month that has 31 days.

Nikolai Kirsanov, the chairman of public organization "Fatherland", told the audience that on January 27 he filed a notification about a picket in front of the office if the LLC "Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan". According to his story, on January 30 he received a refusal from the Astrakhan administration.

According to the audience, the refusal violates citizens' rights and freedoms, hampers the progress of the country's civil society and demonstrates "an abuse of official duties by state bureaucrats."

"The topic of the rally is the rise of gasoline prices and the invalidity of higher tariffs for heating and gas in the gas- and oil-producing regions. We have an impression that the picket was not allowed in front of the 'Gazprom', to which the topic has direct relation," said Kirsanov.