Russian activists denied permission for protest against domestic violence bill
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 January 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian activists denied permission for protest against domestic violence bill, 23 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a48d13.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 23, 2017
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin
Moscow authorities have denied activists permission to protest in a central square against legislation that would decriminalize some forms of domestic violence in Russia.
Organizers wanted to hold a demonstration on Bolotnaya Square on January 28, with up to 1,000 people attending.
In rejecting the application, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin's office said that there is not enough room on the square – the site of past protests attended by tens of thousands of people – and that the gathering would disrupt traffic.
The bill would make "moderate" violence within families an administrative offense, rather than a criminal one, with those found guilty able to pay a fine instead of serving jail time.
It easily passed in the first of three votes in the lower house of parliament, and the second reading is scheduled for January 25.
Amnesty International on January 19 urged Russia not to adopt the legislation, calling it a "sickening attempt to trivialize domestic violence" that would undermine already weak protections against abuse.
The bill "is not going to improve the situation, to say the least," Irina Matviyenko, who runs a domestic violence hot line, told the Associated Press.
Based on reporting by Meduza, AP, and The Guardian
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
