Opposition activists decided to cut their holiday short and organize a new rally in Moscow, they announced on Wednesday.

file photo
While the movement's leaders originally said the next mass protest was to be held in autumn, less prominent Kremlin-critics announced that they were holding a Hot July March of Freedom protest at the end of July.

"Our main goal is to show that the people haven't abandoned the streets, and are ready to continue the battle for their rights," one of the March's organizers, Pavel Shelkov of the liberal Solidarnost movement told Kommersant.

No time to relax

The fact that this march, together with the Regain Russia for Ourselves protest, which is scheduled for August 19, is being organized by a new group doesn't mean that Russia's patchy dissident movement comprising leftists, liberals, nationalists and other, is going to split, Shelkov said.

He, however, said the organizers of Moscow's previous thousands-strong opposition protests, "had to continue battling, but some people decided to have rest until September."

"We are categorically against that," he told Kommersant. "While 12 of our brothers are in jail shall we vacation on islands or in our gardens? I think that's not right," he added referring to those arrested after the rally staged by the opposition on May 6, which ended with clashes with police.

Permission discussions underway

Initially the Hot July March of Freedom rally was planned for July 14, Bastille Day, but rescheduled due to the lack of time to prepare for the event.

The organizers, including members of People's Control, Solidarnost and Left Front, say they are in talks to get a permission to hold a rally in the city center.

The Moscow authorities proposed Naberezhnaya Tarasa Shevchenko for the rally so far, but the organizers are hoping to negotiate a more central place, according to the event's Facebook page.

A request was submitted for 10,000 people. On Wednesday evening, the number of those who confirmed their presence via Facebook has nearly reached 3,000 people.

Keywords: Russia, Protests, Politics - Russian News - Russia

Opposition activists decided to cut their holiday short and organize a new rally in Moscow, they announced on Wednesday.

file photo
While the movement's leaders originally said the next mass protest was to be held in autumn, less prominent Kremlin-critics announced that they were holding a Hot July March of Freedom protest at the end of July.

"Our main goal is to show that the people haven't abandoned the streets, and are ready to continue the battle for their rights," one of the March's organizers, Pavel Shelkov of the liberal Solidarnost movement told Kommersant.

No time to relax

The fact that this march, together with the Regain Russia for Ourselves protest, which is scheduled for August 19, is being organized by a new group doesn't mean that Russia's patchy dissident movement comprising leftists, liberals, nationalists and other, is going to split, Shelkov said.

He, however, said the organizers of Moscow's previous thousands-strong opposition protests, "had to continue battling, but some people decided to have rest until September."

"We are categorically against that," he told Kommersant. "While 12 of our brothers are in jail shall we vacation on islands or in our gardens? I think that's not right," he added referring to those arrested after the rally staged by the opposition on May 6, which ended with clashes with police.

Permission discussions underway

Initially the Hot July March of Freedom rally was planned for July 14, Bastille Day, but rescheduled due to the lack of time to prepare for the event.

The organizers, including members of People's Control, Solidarnost and Left Front, say they are in talks to get a permission to hold a rally in the city center.

The Moscow authorities proposed Naberezhnaya Tarasa Shevchenko for the rally so far, but the organizers are hoping to negotiate a more central place, according to the event's Facebook page.

A request was submitted for 10,000 people. On Wednesday evening, the number of those who confirmed their presence via Facebook has nearly reached 3,000 people.