Sochi Winter Olympics: Vladimir Putin lifts ban on political protests

[dipsydoodle]

Source: ABC News

Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a decree lifting a blanket ban on political protests at the Sochi Winter Olympics, bowing to pressure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The decree allows demonstrations and marches only at locations or along routes agreed to by officials in the Black Sea resort city as well as the regional police and security forces.

It also allows officials to set limits on how many people can take part in protests during the Games, which run from February 7 to 23.

Mr Putin had issued a decree in August that forbade any rallies or marches over issues unrelated to the Games from being held inside the tightly-controlled security zone.

The measure was to take effect on January 7 and last until March 21 after the city hosts the Paralympic Games from March 7 to 16.

Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-04/putin-lifts-ban-on-protests-at-sochi-games/5184916

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MOSCOW, January 4 (RIA Novosti) – President Vladimir Putin made changes to a decree on security at the 2014 Winter Olympics, opening in Russia's southern resort city Sochi next month, to allow pickets and rallies to take place during the event, the Kremlin press service said Saturday.

The new order permits demonstrations unrelated to the Olympics and Paralympics to happen between January 7 and March 21 as long as the number of participants, location or marching route, and time interval are agreed upon by local authorities.

Russia had earlier banned rallies unrelated to the Games, citing security concerns in an order signed by Putin that also severely restricted access to Sochi and set up controlled zones at Olympic venues where all people and their belongings would be searched. Activists denounced the move as a restriction of free speech.

Olympic officials said in December that protesters would only be allowed to demonstrate inside designated public zones in Sochi.

http://en.ria.ru/sochi2014/20140104/186223143/Putin-to-Allow-Rallies-at-Sochi-Olympics.html

[quakerboy]

1. Im sure that any protestors

will feel very liberated knowing they are allowed to protest, and not at all concerned that they might be noted, marked, and expeditiously vanished a week after the Olympics are over. Cause Putin is so well known for his generous, kindhearted spirit.

[RKP5637]

2. Yep, his KGB experience has taught him to watch and take notes for action against any

native protesters after the crowds are gone. One can be probably sure that every action is being recorded with a proliferation of video and tracking devices. It provides an opportunity for tracking.

[joshcryer]

3. Free speech zones.

[Bohunk68]

4. Exactly what popped into my head.

Shades of Jorge Boosh and his gang of crooks.

[davidpdx]

5. Oh I believe you Vladimir

You would never do anyone harm
Never imprison anyone who doubts your charm
Oh Vladimir take a big drink of something stiff
and take a leap off a cliff