The St Petersburg authorities twice denied permission to the “Imperial Legion” to hold a religious procession.

The administration of St Petersburg’s Central District has refused to approve a religious procession on the anniversary of the execution of Nicholas II, reports “Bumaga.”

Officials cited ongoing coronavirus restrictions. Previously, the Smolninsky District Court had already obliged the district administration to reconsider the initial request—for a procession on 18 May, Nicholas II’s birthday. That march was also refused for the same reason. Organisers associate the denial with “persecution of Orthodoxy.”

The procession is being organised by the “Imperial Legion”: a combat unit attached to the monarchist, far-right organisation “Russian Imperial Movement.” Its members have fought in Donbas, the Middle East and Africa, and since 2022—in Ukraine.

The “Russian Imperial Movement” is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In Russia, the movement’s website was blocked in 2012.