Moscow officials are refusing to lift the ban on public rallies introduced to curb COVID spread until the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares the end of the pandemic, the official response to the request of the Yabloko parliamentary faction at the Moscow City Duma to lift the restrictions reads.
“It is clear to us that under this government, no public rallies or pickets that are not of a pro-government nature will ever be approved in Moscow. Right now, they are using WHO, which is not in a hurry to declare the end of the COVID pandemic, as an excuse. When it does, they’ll think of something else,” Maksim Kruglov, a member of the Moscow City Duma representing Yabloko, stated.
From 15 July onward, Russia will be lifting all COVID land border restrictions. On 1 July, Russia's consumer rights protection regulator Rospotrebnadzor lifted all measures introduced to curb COVID spread in the country, including obligatory use of masks, a requirement for restaurants to close during the night and other measures.
