Policing mass protests/ Russia

Police want to broaden law on rallies, cover new forms of protest

The Russian Interior Ministry is suggesting altering the law so that it covers car protests and sit-ins, saying the move would circumvent legal ambiguity in the interest of society as a whole.

The bill prepared by ministry experts has been posted on the government website for public discussion. The explanatory notes attached to the document say the bill aims to include various new forms of protest, in particular tent camps and demonstrations using vehicles, into the Federal Law on Rallies, Meetings, Demonstrations, Marches and Pickets introduced in 2004.