The
road police stopped YABLOKO’s column – 15 cars with YABLOKO’s
symbols – in the centre of Moscow. The police announced that
the motor race was unlawful and insisted that it required
prior registration with the local authorities.
The police also demanded to take YABLOKO symbols and flags
off the cars, saying that they may release the column only
on this condition.
Sergei Mitorkhin, Chairman of the YABLOKO party and deputy
of the Moscow City Duma who came to the site demanded from
the police to stop their arbitrary actions against YABLOKO.
The road police announced that YABLOKO’s cars violated traffic
rules and accompanied the cars to the Arbat police department,
where protocols on “unsanctioned demonstration” were drawn,
after which YABLOKO’s activists were released.
The motor race (a column of 15 cars) with party symbols was
arranged for collection of signatures required for YABLOKO’s
registration in the Moscow City Duma election campaign. The
activists had to stop at different part of the city and collect
signatures in favour of YABLOKO. The law does not require
any notifications or registrations with local authorities
for such collection of signatures.
See also:
Elections to
the Moscow City Duma
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