Whew... We did everything we could to avoid writing this post and putting out an emergency video.
However, we underestimated just how hard the authorities can now squeeze any business. Yesterday I wrote about how all contractors are being forbidden from providing us with a stage and sound equipment. Today I wrote.
The pressure is completely direct, with almost brazen swagger: this rally will have nothing except official authorization.
For the past several days, it has been the same pattern over and over. Some contractors refuse immediately as soon as they learn the location.
Others agree at first, then think it over and back out. And our absolute favorite category is those who agree, then we go out to Akademik Sakharov Avenue, draw up the budget, work through the logistics (all city events are set up over 24 hours or more, while we have only 12 hours for setup), get all the way to signing the contract—and then, after a while, they refuse.
The argument is simple: “The boss got a call from City Hall—they’ve banned this location.” They say it is the mayor’s aide personally making the calls. I do not know who it is, but his threats to permanently bar them from participating in events in Moscow work very well.
But we are used to difficulties, and even though everyone refuses, they still sympathize with us. So there had to be someone who sympathized enough not to back out.
We found one. We even nicknamed him Ivan the Savior. This morning he said no one would force his company to drop us, and then at 6:11 p.m. he sent this message:
You can listen to the recording of the phone conversation with Ivan in the video. According to him, City Hall has imposed “a ban on this event at this specific location.”
Why do they need this?
It is obvious why. Since it is inevitable that a lot of people will take to the streets, they want to make them feel as humiliated as possible. A speech from the back of a GAZelle van, so only the first 500 people can hear it. So that officials behind the barriers can laugh as they watch. So that TV can run humiliating reports.
And most importantly: so that everyone who comes feels that it is all pointless and nothing can be changed.
To take part in such a staged performance would be to betray ourselves. Yes, we are ready for compromises, but we are not ready for humiliation.
We are canceling the rally on Sakharov Avenue and moving our very peaceful event to Tverskaya Street.
This street is perfectly suited to our purpose. Traffic from Pushkinskaya downward has even been closed off for public festivities. And that is exactly what we have: a peaceful public gathering under Russian flags on Russia Day.
Old man Putin simply does not want normal rallies to take place in the country’s two largest cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg.
We understand why he does not want that. He is a thief, and loud slogans against thieves make him uncomfortable.
We understand that, but we are not giving up our slogans.
Therefore:
St. Petersburg: 2:00 p.m., Field of Mars.
Moscow: 2:00 p.m., Tverskaya Street.
There is nothing to be afraid of. The law, justice, truth, and common sense are on our side.
And, as you understand, we really need help spreading this information. There is very little time, and the whole city needs to know. Please help. Like, share, repost—all of that.
See you in the street tomorrow.