Moscow’s Yabloko party was denied permission to hold a series of pickets against the Stalin bas-relief due to coronavirus restrictions.

The prefecture of the Central Administrative District of Moscow has refused permission for the regional branch of the Yabloko party to hold a series of solo pickets against the bas-relief featuring Stalin at Taganskaya metro station. This was reported by Kirill Goncharov, deputy chair of the Moscow branch of the party.

The pickets were planned for 3 July on Taganskaya Square, with up to 20 participants expected. The prefecture’s response stated that the event was not approved “due to the current epidemiological situation” and the ongoing high-alert regime introduced by a Moscow mayoral decree from 8 June 2020. According to the document, public events in the capital are still banned.

Yabloko representatives see the refusal as a restriction on expressing disagreement with the authorities’ decisions. Kirill Goncharov said that the party would continue its campaign for the removal of the bas-relief and intends to appeal the refusal in court.