MOSCOW -- The Moscow mayor's office has rejected a request by activists to hold a "Day of Wrath" rally on November 12, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
The reason for the decision was explained as "possible damage to a historical site -- the monument to Prince Yury Dolgoruky," which is near where the activists wanted to hold the gathering.
Sergei Udaltsov, one of the organizers of the "Day of Wrath" campaign and a leader of the opposition Left Front movement, told RFE/RL that the aim of the gathering was to show support for Moscow journalist Oleg Kashin and Khimki environmental activist Konstantin Fetisov.
Fetisov was severely beaten outside his apartment in the town of Khimki, near Moscow, on November 4, and Kashin was brutally beaten two days later by two assailants on his way home in Moscow. Both of them have severe injuries and are in comas.
Some 30 activists were arrested during the last "Day of Wrath" rally held in front of the Moscow mayor's office on August 12.
Protesters were calling for, among other things, Mayor Yury Luzhkov to resign. Luzhkov was sacked by President Dmitry Medvedev in September.
The reason for the decision was explained as "possible damage to a historical site -- the monument to Prince Yury Dolgoruky," which is near where the activists wanted to hold the gathering.
Sergei Udaltsov, one of the organizers of the "Day of Wrath" campaign and a leader of the opposition Left Front movement, told RFE/RL that the aim of the gathering was to show support for Moscow journalist Oleg Kashin and Khimki environmental activist Konstantin Fetisov.
Fetisov was severely beaten outside his apartment in the town of Khimki, near Moscow, on November 4, and Kashin was brutally beaten two days later by two assailants on his way home in Moscow. Both of them have severe injuries and are in comas.
Some 30 activists were arrested during the last "Day of Wrath" rally held in front of the Moscow mayor's office on August 12.
Protesters were calling for, among other things, Mayor Yury Luzhkov to resign. Luzhkov was sacked by President Dmitry Medvedev in September.
