Moscow city government banned rally to protest against "foreign agents" law
In Russia, the Moscow municipal government did not authorize a rally in defense of the media and against the law on "foreign agents", that an independent trade union of journalists and media workers was scheduling to hold, as Radio Liberty reported.
The authorities justified the denial with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, instead of the September 4 rally, the journalists' union intends to hold a meeting of voters with several candidates for the State Duma and the Moscow City Duma "to discuss media freedom and the consequences of repressive laws." Under current Russian law, such meetings do not require any special approvals.
In addition, the organizers plan to hold a meeting of media and lawyers on September 2, "to agree on joint action and discuss ways of protection."
IMI reported, earlier the trade union of journalists of Russia submitted to the Moscow city hall the message on carrying out on September 4 meeting against the law on "foreign agents".
On August 20, the Russian Ministry of Justice listed Dozhd TV and Important Stories as “foreign agents”.
On August 21, some single picketers who came out in the streets to protest against crackdown on the press, were detained in Moscow. Later, almost all of them were released until the trial starts, and RT journalist Ilya Vasyunin spent two days in the police station.
The list of media - "foreign agents" in Russia includes three dozen individuals and editorial offices, including 10 Russian-language projects of the media corporation "Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty" and four journalists who work with the Russian service of Radio Liberty.
Radio Liberty considers the legislation on mass media - "foreign agents" - repressive and challenges the legality of its application in Russian courts and the European Court of Human Rights.
Help us be even more cool!
