DUSHANBE, November 11, 2014, Asia-Plus — A new law on demonstrations and street processes will replace the law on demonstrations and street processes that was adopted in 1998, MP Saodat Amirshoyeva, who is one of authors of the new law, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to her, the law is aimed at protecting rights and freedoms of citizens during the holding of demonstrations, protecting demonstration participants and ensuring public order during public gatherings and demonstrations.
“Under the new law, local authorities have the right to allow demonstrations involving up to 1,000 people while demonstrations involving over 1,000 people can be allowed by the regional administrations and administrations of large cities,” Ms. Amirshoyeva noted.
We will recall that a group of parliamentarians drafted a law requiring amendments to the country’s law on meetings, demonstrations and street processions in late May this year.
The draft law, in particular, bans masks at demonstrations.
Besides, persons who had a Molotov cocktail with them at demonstrations and did not use it will be held administratively responsible anyway.
The draft law also notes that persons using a Molotov cocktail in demonstration and public gathering places will be put on the same footing as persons illegally using firearms.
Under the country’s legislation, law enforcement officers have the right to use weapons against such category of persons.
Some protesters used so-called Molotov cocktails during deadly clashes that occurred in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) on May 21, 2014. The clashes left at least three people dead and several people injured. The fatalities occurred during a police offensive against suspected criminals,
