Moscow’s ‘Hyde Parks’ awaiting applications

(Interfax – MOSCOW, April 15, 2013) The official portals of the Gorky Park (www.park-gorkogo.com) and Sokolniki Park (www.park.sokolniki.com) have opened the Hyde Park division, which are accepting applications to hold public rallies.

The Gorky Park portal says that the site to hold public rallies can take up to 2,000 people. Public meetings can take place between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

An application to hold a public rally can either be given to the park administration in a written form or filled in on its website no earlier than 15 days and no later than three days before the event.

The Sokolniki Park website says that public rallies will be held at the Green Theater ground, which is recommended for 1,500 people but can handle up to 2,000 people.

The Sokolniki Park has already started taking applications.

The Sokolniki Park website has a preliminary sketch of the ground resembling Hyde Park.

It has been reported that on May 1, so-called “Hyde Parks” for public meetings in Moscow would open at the Gorky Park with a maximum capacity of 2,000 people and Sokolniki Park with up to 1,500 people.

It is not necessary to obtain a special permit from authorities to hold a public meeting in the “Hyde Parks.”

Alexei Maiorov, head of the Moscow regional security department, told Interfax on March 28 that sexual minorities would also be able to gather in the “Hyde Parks” if their events were in line with the law.

“The time will come, there will be notifications, there will be a wish to hold a rally – we will consider these questions in every case,” Maiorov said.

At the same time, Maiorov said on March 14 that gay pride parades were unwanted in Moscow.