Moscow authorities permit rally against Internet restrictions
MOSCOW. March 6 (Interfax) - The authorities in Moscow granted an application from activists for a rally against Internet restrictions to be held in Academician Sakharov Avenue on March 10, the city's regional security department said on Wednesday.
"The rally has been approved. It will be held from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. in Academician Sakharov Avenue. Assembly at 1 p.m., numbers: up to 10,000 people," a spokesperson told Interfax on Wednesday.
It was reported that the event was being organized by the unregistered Libertarian Party of Russia.
Its stated purpose is "to demonstrate Russian citizens' disagreement with the Russian government's socio-economic and political course, including by speaking out against senator Andrey Klishas' bill isolating the Russian segment of the Internet and increasing Internet censorship, against the Yarovaya package, against political repressions."
On February 12 the State Duma passed on first reading a bill on a range of organizing, administrative and technical measures protecting and ensuring a stable Internet in Russia.
The bill would create an independent infrastructure for smooth Internet services nationwide, its co-author Klishas said.
The bill was "prepared on account of the aggressive nature of the U.S. National Cyber Strategy approved in September 2018," according to an explanatory note to the bill.