Российские Свободы (or the lack thereof)

[Rain Dog]

без комментариев:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/01/international/europe/01RUSS.html

[Sergey___K]

Там сплошая регистрация.

[DmitryMA]

Russian Parliament Moves Toward a Ban on Public Demonstrations
By SETH MYDANS

Published: April 1, 2004


OSCOW, March 31 — The Russian Parliament took the first step on Wednesday toward passing a law that would ban demonstrations in most public places, narrowing one of the crucial freedoms won as the Soviet Union came to an end.

The bill passed the first of three readings by a vote of 294 to 137, reflecting the dominance of supporters of President Vladimir V. Putin, who also won an overwhelming majority of votes when he was re-elected on March 14.

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The draft law prohibits rallies outside government buildings, embassies and international organizations, on major roads, near schools, hospitals, stadiums, concert halls and religious centers, and at pipelines and environmentally hazardous sites.

"This would be the end of political life in the streets," said Sergei Reshulsky, a member of the Communist Party, which has asserted itself over the years in street rallies.

The liberal Yabloko Party, which was shut out of Parliament in an election in November, protested, saying, "The bill is aimed at eliminating the right of citizens for peaceful meetings, demonstrations and pickets" granted by the Constitution.

Yabloko Party members were among the demonstrators who rallied outside Parliament with signs reading, "No to a police state." Rally organizers had not obtained the necessary permit, and the demonstration was broken up by the police.

Several demonstrators were briefly detained, including the deputy head of Yabloko, Sergei Mitrokhin.

Proponents of the bill said it would help ensure national security and public order, issues that had contributed to Mr. Putin's popularity during the election.

The leader of the president's parliamentary bloc, Boris V. Gryzlov, said that there would still be plenty of places to hold demonstrations and that formal permission would no longer be required, only advance notice.

The proposed law, however, contains a clause that would allow officials to block any gatherings if "their aim contradicted the Constitution, generally accepted norms of public morality and federal law."

Advocates for democracy and human rights have grown worried in recent months as Mr. Putin has tightened control of the news media and restricted serious political opposition.

But a number of recent public opinion polls show that there is a constituency for restrictive measures. Most people appear to favor a strong central government that would limit their freedoms, including the imposition of censorship.

[MaxSt]

But a number of recent public opinion polls show that there is a constituency for restrictive measures. Most people appear to favor a strong central government that would limit their freedoms

Если этот кусок из контекста вырвать - можно подумать, что про Америку написано.

MaxSt.

[cityzen]

Empire strikes back

Georgia Passes Laws Limiting Protests

Organizers of protests like Randall's "G-8 Carnival" must put up refundable deposits equal to the city's estimated cost for clean up and police protection. Demonstrations may only last 2 hours, 30 minutes. Signs and banners may not be carried on sticks that might be brandished as weapons. And the signs may not be larger than 2-by-3 feet.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... est_laws_1