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Car protesters targeted as Russia tightens law on demonstrations

© RIA Novosti . Aleksei Danichev  / Go to the mediabankCar protesters targeted as Russia tightens law on demonstrations
Car protesters targeted as Russia tightens law on demonstrations - Sputnik International
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Russia's Federation Council voted on Wednesday to approve amendments to the law on public gatherings that would curb protests by outraged motorists.

Russia's Federation Council voted on Wednesday to approve amendments to the law on public gatherings that would curb protests by outraged motorists.

The changes to the law would require requests to hold a rally to be submitted no later than three working days before the proposed event. Any request should specify whether vehicles will be involved.

VIP cars with flashing blue lights brazenly disregarding traffic rules spawned a grassroots protest movement this spring. Motorists attached blue buckets to the roofs of their cars in imitation of the lights, known in Russian as migalki. A dozen blue bucket demonstrations were held in Moscow.

An infamous car accident in February involving a LUKoil vice president in which two women died caused public outrage and calls to restrict the use of migalki.

He was cleared by police in September, although witnesses claim he was to blame.

The dismissal last month of Yury Luzhkov as Moscow mayor has been hailed by some opposition leaders as the beginning of a new era of freedom of expression, but analysts are warning them against getting their hopes too high.

The changes to the law, which were approved by the lower house of parliament on Saturday and need the president's signature to come into force, would also prohibit people charged with administrative offences from organizing rallies.

Many opposition activists face administrative charges after organizing or attending unsanctioned protests.

For now, however, opposition groups are celebrating a victory after the Moscow authorities granted them permission to hold a rally on downtown Triumfalnaya Square on October 31 for the first time since the "Strategy 31" rallies began last year.

MOSCOW, October 27 (RIA Novosti)

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