Tyumen city hall approves Navalny supporters’ Jan 28 rally

File Photo of Alexei Navalny Marching on Street with Others in Background; adapted from image at commons.wikimedia.org with credit to Evgeny Feldman, subject to Creative Commons license; original image at commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FEV_1795_(cropped1).jpg, with license information at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en and creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode

TYUMEN. Jan 19 (Interfax) – Supporters of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny have been permitted to hold a rally in Tyumen on January 28, a city administration representative told Interfax on Friday.

“We have issued permission for the rally, which will take place at Zarechny Park,” the representative said.

The opposition originally sought permission for a procession along Tsvetnoi Boulevard and a rally on Unity and Accord Square, he said.

“But there are ice sculptures, slides, and a 28-meter New Year tree on Tsvetnoi Boulevard today. All this will complicate the procession, while Unity and Accord Square will not be able to accommodate the stated number of participants. Therefore, an alternative option has been suggested – a venue for the rally at Zarechny Park,” the representative said.

Navalny’s Tyumen headquarters told Interfax that it estimates a turnout of 1,000 people.

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