The authorities of Kazan banned the rally in defense of the internet. Officials stated that the goals of the event "do not meet the requirements" of the law.

      Protests were also banned in Naberezhnye Chelny and Innopolis. The authorities of Kazan refused to approve a rally in defense of the internet, which was scheduled for March 28. This was reported by the Tatarstan branch of the "Yabloko" party. The notification was submitted to the city executive committee on March 16. The organizers reported that the expected number of participants in the rally was one hundred people. The press service of the "Yabloko" party stated that activists proposed "three alternative venues for the event — all of them are located in the center of Kazan and have access for pedestrians and transport." The next day — March 17 — the Kazan executive committee stated that "the purpose stated in the notification does not meet the requirements" of the law on rallies. The Tatarstan branch of the "Yabloko" party sent a clarification regarding the stated goals: "Expressing a civic position regarding the violation of the right to freely seek, receive, transmit, produce, and disseminate information by any lawful means, as provided by Article 29 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation; ensuring free access to the internet and messengers." In response, the authorities of Kazan reiterated that the purpose of the event "does not meet the requirements" of the law on rallies. "Why do the Kazan authorities refuse to hold the rally? Because they are afraid. They are not afraid of 'disorder.' They are afraid of the voice of the people. They are afraid that the truth, spoken in unison, will be louder than state propaganda. They are afraid that the people will stop being silent and start demanding. They can ban the rally. But they cannot ban people from thinking and speaking the truth," commented the decision of the authorities in the Tatarstan branch of the "Yabloko" party. For his part, Kazan activist Dmitry Rumyantsev reported that the authorities of Kazan, Naberezhnye Chelny, and Innopolis also refused to hold a rally "against blockages, slowdowns of messenger services, and internet and communication shutdowns." The protests were scheduled for March 29. Officials stated that the stated purpose "does not meet the requirements" of the law on rallies. Subscribe to our channel on Telegram.