Against the
backdrop of new anti-Putin protests, the Russian parliament has tightened the
laws on the right to assembly and protest. Opposition members and human rights
activists have criticised the move.
The Russian
Internet is seething. Whether on Facebook, Twitter or on the blogger platform
LiveJournal, the Russian parliament's decision to tighten laws on the right to
assembly is being hotly debated.
"It's
just a pyrrhic victory," wrote the blogger Andrej Malgin on the website of
the Kremlin-critical radio broadcaster Echo of Moscow. The implementation of
the changes to law will allow the domestic political situation in Russia
"to explode." The co-founder of the civil society group League of
Voters, Dmitri Oreskin is of a similar opinion. "It's clear that those in
power have no concrete answer to the call for fair trials and fair elections
and are simply trying to silence protestors," Oreskin told DW.
Penalties
softened
 |
| Putin is likely to sign the new legislation on the right to assembly |
The ruling
party United Russia pushed through multiple changes to the law during a
nine-hour marathon sitting in the State Duma, all of which relate to the right
to assembly. Participators in public protests and other gatherings can now
expect a fine of between 250 and 7000 euros ($310 - $8,760) if, for example,
people are injured during a demonstration or damage to property occurs. Civil
servants can expect fines double this amount. Businesses can also be fined up
to 25,000 euros ($31,300).
As an
alternative to the fines, community work is also being proposed in future.
Whoever can't or won't pay the fine will be forced to work 200 hours for the
community - for example, sweeping the streets of Moscow. The punishments were
much harsher in the original proposals. But after a wave of criticism from the
public, plans for higher fines were abandoned. A member of congress from United
Russia, Saled Omarov, said that this indicated the "humane attitude"
of those in power.
Criticism
from the human rights council
 |
| The State Duma passed the new legislation unusually quickly |
The State
Duma appeared to be short on time. The changes to the law were pushed through
unusually quickly, according to observers. The opposition party A Just Russia
had already made a failed attempt to delay the process with hundreds of
amendments. But the new laws were already signed off by the Federation Council
- the upper house of the Russian parliament - just a few hours after the Duma
had passed them.
At the last
minute, the Human Rights Council tried to get the Russian President to stop the
new laws beings passed. The Council leader Mikhail Fedotov wrote that the
decision by the Duma was an "error." Tighter laws on the right to
assembly would lead to "grave human rights abuses and the further
entrenchment of existing conflicts within society." But the leader of the
Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, said that "for some reason or
other," Fedotov's letter had not been received on Wednesday.
The new
laws will now be handed to President Vladimir Putin to sign. His press officer
explained that Putin would check them in detail. In the opinion of the
President, the rights and freedoms of citizens should not be limited, Putin's
spokesman said.
Adding fuel
to the fire
 |
| There was a March of Millions at the beginning of May |
The
tightening of laws on the right to assembly were agreed just a few days before
a massive protest is due to take place in Moscow. The opposition has plans for
a new "March of Millions" on Russia Day on June 12. It probably won't
be millions, but it could well be tens of thousands.
The wave of
protests, stemming from the allegations of fraud following the parliamentary
elections in December 2011, has died down in the past few months. The
tightening of laws relating to the right of assembly may well give protestors
new incentive, according to observers in Russia. "People shouldn't be
prevented from airing their views publically," the leader of the Left
Front and protest organizer Sergei Udaltsov told DW. He's certain that the
protests could well lead to mass unrest.
Moscowlawyer
Vadim Prochorov, who repeatedly represents the opposition in court, believes
that sections of the opposition movement could become radicalized. However, a
section of the urban middle-classes could also retreat from the protests due to
the threat of harsher penalties, he said.
Author: Roman Goncharenko / hw
Editor: Michael Lawton
Related Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.