Youth are asked to return to the Internet

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Молодежь просят вернуться в интернет

A sudden increase of protest activity forced the government to think about changing the law on rallies. But while some speak of liberalization, others will need the tightening order in the interests of the majority.

A mass rally on 26 March, 12 June and 7 October, organized by supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, caused a lot of headaches for the officials of St. Petersburg. The authorities suddenly discovered that the city has an active youth. And distribution of food parcels before the elections, its voice will not win. What to do with them now? The answer to this question at the Smolny Institute as there was no and no. Therefore, the police are on the stock acted differently: the guards that waited until the last, then grabbed and dragged to the paddy wagon all in a row.

The impotence of the Governor Georgy Poltavchenko signed already at the time when he decided to close the so-called Hyde Park on the Champ de Mars. Thus, in the centre of town had no places to go pomitingovat in a simplified manner — simply by filing the notice. And, in principle, to agree on some kind of public event in St. Petersburg — the task for the opposition is unreal. Smolny himself pushes activists in uncoordinated rallies.

These problems drew the attention of the St. Petersburg Commissioner for human rights Alexander Shishlov. At his request, in the legislative Assembly even held parliamentary hearings on the theme of changing the city law on meetings. The Ombudsperson called for liberalization: the Hyde-parks in the centre, for example, in Pioneer square, the possibility of notification via the Internet, lifting the ban on rallies near government bodies and educational institutions, reducing the possible timeframe for filing of notice in case of urgent emerging issue.

“Now the notification procedure for holding public events are actually replaced by licensing. But the violent reaction of the state (detention and trials) do not correspond to the real threats to public safety. Unfortunately, in St. Petersburg, we regularly see wicked, dishonest, disrespectful approach to the harmonization of public events. Failure to use the formal and far-fetched pretexts. Unwillingness to find legal solutions to ensure the right to freedom of Assembly, including the demonstrative refusal, contribute to the radicalization of societies attitudes. It actually provokes people with active citizenship, especially youth, to conduct outstanding shares, is destroying faith in the law and the state,” noted Shishlov.

Faith in the law was undermined by the youth and the courts, who arrested and fined hundreds of people after the rally on June 12.

“June 12 was arrested 617 people. Their two days were held in unsuitable premises. What these people want? They want to be heard. But they are not invited in the legislative Assembly, no one spoke in court, you discuss the law, but it is worth nothing if the court does not apply”, — said the member of the Council on human rights under the President of the Russian Federation Leonid Nikitinskiy.

The Ombudsman Shishlov added that lost faith in Russian courts in St. Petersburg are increasingly turning to the ECHR.

“Not so easy to distract young people from the Internet. None of them will go nowhere if they do not understand that it is absolutely necessary. You asked: where is the youth where students where students? And they woke up here. And not because of Bulk and because objectively it’s time. A number of problems, which now applies to young people, too. And why the ruling party is constantly dropping all the responsibility on law enforcement, why puts forward people in uniforms? Why have a confrontation of young people with government? You say that they are too young to claim power. And the weapons in hand to take, and to serve in the army, not young? In Syria the fight is not young?” — ask questions of a member of the Public chamber of St. Petersburg Director Alexander Sokurov.

Speech of the Director was interrupted due to the requirements of the regulations. Yes, in principle it was clear that the government is not happy, suddenly awakened youth. Now to Smolny dream that all went back to sleep. Or at least was engaged in protest activity only on the Internet.

“If the ideas are worthy of attention, they will be heard anyway. In addition to delivering information in the form of a rally or procession on the date, well developed for other platforms of communication with the public, including the younger generation — platform, the Internet radio platform”, — said the Chairman of the Committee on law Smolny Valery Belotserkovsky.

The official said that Smolny does not intend to allocate sites for the public expression of opinion in the city center. The administration is quite satisfied with the existing Hyde parks — in the Specific, the southern coastal and Polustrovski parks, as well as in the garden’s 30th anniversary Oct. In GU Ministry of internal Affairs and Regardie don’t want to see protesters in the city center. The guards are blamed on security and counterterrorism.

Deputies from the ruling party don’t want liberalization of the legislation on rallies. Many of them have expressed conspiracy theories that the crowd at rallies ruled provocateurs, “to substitute children under the batons”. So, United Russia Alexey Tsivilev talked about some markings Navalny supporters.

“There is a very rigid structure, operating by its own rules,” — said the shocking details of the MP.

His fellow party member Sergei Kupchenko directly stated that the need to mitigate the legislation. On the contrary, United Russia has proposed to introduce restrictions on the admission of the protests of minors. And unfair to the organizers of the rallies, according to Kupchenko, is to refuse further harmonization of public events. In this case, the MP moves quite a noble thing, because he supposedly represents the interests of most Petersburgers.

“In the Constitution the principle of protection of the rights of the majority. I do not consider myself protected when held demonstrations, preventing me to go somewhere,” — said United Russia.

The Ombudsman Shishlov said.

“After all the main principle of the Constitution is to protect the person, his life, rights and dignity. The majority is not always right. It is believed that the Sun revolves around the Earth,” — said the Commissioner for human rights.

“The majority and the minority — things variables. The current majority should remember that he can become a minority. And should not with such a lust to destroy today’s minority. Let’s talk before it’s too late” — persuaded colleagues the Deputy Maxim Reznik.

But the dialogue in the ruling party, which controls the St. Petersburg sacks are configured only formally. In fact, the discussion is unlikely to lead to any liberalization of the legislation. The proposals of the opposition heard, but intend to act at its own discretion. Because most may not be considered a minority.

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