by Nina Achmatova

Anyone who has been fined, or guilty of administrative violations can not organise public gatherings. Local authority control on all events reaffirmed, not just those unwelcome by the regime.

Moscow (AsiaNews / Agencies) - If you have been fined for not paying for a ticket on public transport, you lose the right to demonstrate. That's what could happen in Russia if a bill, approved last July 9 at its first debate in the State Duma, is passed. The text allows for a ban on organising public events for anyone who, in the past, has been sentenced to pay fines. The draft, which was approved by 312 out of 450 votes, is widely criticised by Gennady Gudkov – a member of the party "A Just Russia" - who has branded the initiative as "foolish" and " aimed at hindering the organization of rallies and making them impossible "

The bill states that no legal entity - including political parties - can organize a public meeting, if guilty of administrative violations. These range from excessive speed to travelling without a ticket on public transport. According to Maxim Rokhmistrov, deputy head of the Liberal Democratic Party, the bill is unconstitutional because " administrative offense cannot result in a person losing their right to free assembly."

Furthermore, organizers will not be allowed to advertise information about the program and the location of an event until the local authorities approve the route and date of the event. The authorities, according to the draft law will have three business days to reject the requests of the organizers and possibly suggest alternatives. In recent years, demonstrations deemed "unwelcome" by the government such as opposition protests or gay rallies have met with difficulties, and often organisers are unable to obtain necessary permits.

The bill also proposes that rules for all public gatherings involving transportation vehicles and held on “transportation infrastructure objects” — which includes roads — are to be set by local authorities.  According to Gudkov, the reference is to so-called " blue bucket" demonstrations in which drivers put a blue bucket on their cars in protest against the use of flashing lights by state officials, who are roam the city in violation of the highway code with impunity.

The bill now needs to pass a second debate, the date for which has not yet been set.

• Russia
• Duma
• bill
• debate
• civil
• right
• protest
• public
• demonstration
• fine
• law