A rally against election fraud was not approved in Nizhny Novgorod, a large city on the Volga River.

The administration of Nizhny Novgorod, a large city on the Volga River, has refused to approve a rally against election fraud that was planned for 18 October on Gorky Square, reports RusNews. The notification for an event for 500 people was submitted by activist Yaroslav Polyakov.

Local authorities referred to a decree by the governor introduced in October 2022, after the introduction of a “basic readiness level” in the region. Initially, the document banned the use of drones, and later it also imposed a ban on mass gatherings with people present in person. Exceptions are made for certain commemorative, religious, sporting and cultural events, as well as pre-election campaigning.

Previously, authorities refused to allow rallies against election fraud in at least 15 cities, calculated the media outlet “7×7.” Reasons cited included security threats, restrictions due to coronavirus, the unsafe condition of venues, and errors in paperwork. In Perm, a major city in the Urals, authorities also referred to the presumption of innocence of electoral commissions. The rally was only able to go ahead in Syktyvkar, a city in the Komi Republic in north-western Russia; Lipetsk, a regional centre in western Russia; Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the largest city on the Kamchatka Peninsula; Tyumen, a major city in Siberia; and Tobolsk, also in the Tyumen region.