By Pearl Rimon
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia — Russian parliament has approved a bill restricting the current law on public protests. The bill would increase the fines for protest participants to 300,000 rubles ($9,000), 600,000 rubles ($18,000) for organizers and peaking at one million rubles ($30,000) for legal entities. People could be fined for taking part in unsanctioned protests or for violations during sanctioned protests.

These proposed changes have moved through the upper chamber of Russian parliament, the Federation Council and the lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma with great speed and only await President Vladimir Putin’s signature in order to become law. President Putin has previously expressed his support for the bill which is backed by the United Russia party.

The bill was first introduced to the parliamentary chambers less than a month ago. The bill’s first reading occurred on May 22 and it had its third and final reading on June 5. It is believed that the fast track for the bill is due to the upcoming June 12 mass protest rally planned by opposition parties.

Despite the bill’s fast track into a law, opposition members of parliament did use delaying tactics in an attempt to postpone the vote on the bill. They forced a reading of each of the 300 amendments to the bill. During one of parliament’s sessions, 20 demonstators were detained for protesting. Demonstatrors say the proposed bill violates the 31st article of the Russian constitution, regarding the right to freely assemble.

This bill challenges the right to freedom of assembly. “Imposing large fines for violating rules on public events will have a chilling effect on peaceful assembly in Russia,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The aim seems to be to curtail demonstrations rather than to properly regulate them.”

In December 2011, Russia experienced its biggest protests since the fall of the USSR. Nearly 50,000 people gathered in Moscow to protest, due to allegations of ballot-rigging after the parliamentary elections. Close to 1,000 people were arrested following the aftermath of this protest.

For further information, please see:

BBC — Russian Parliament Backs Huge Protest Fines — 6 June 2012

Human Rights Watch — Russia: Reject Restrictions on Peaceful Assembly — 6 June 2012

Deutsche Welle — Russian Bill Targeting Protestors Hits Snag — 5 June 2012

BBC — Russian Election: Biggest Protests Since Fall of USSR — 10 December 2011