Quarantine displaces constitutional issue from priorities of activists in Southern Russia

Activists explain a decline in the protest activities regarding the voting on the amendments to the Russian Constitution by restrictions imposed because of the epidemic.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 11, 2020, the bill on constitutional amendments was adopted by both houses of the Federal Assembly. The All-Russian vote for amendments was scheduled for April 22, but was postponed due to the spread of coronavirus.

Marina Mitaleva, an activist from Astrakhan, said that earlier, she had participated in protest actions against the amendments to the Russian Constitution; however, in the past two months, no protests were held because of the quarantine regime imposed in the region.

Activist Vera Inozemtseva believes that the efficiency of a picket on the street in the today's conditions is minimal. "After all, the purpose of any picket is to ensure that people passing by notice a poster and the idea that a picketer is trying to convey to them. And now there are fewer people on the streets," Vera Inozemtseva told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In Kalmykia, which borders the Astrakhan Region, local activists also pointed to a decline in the public activities regarding protests against the constitutional amendments because of the situation around the coronavirus infection. "There are certain risks, and they can restrain people. Meanwhile, I'm personally not scared. But after the quarantine ends, I think there will be protest activities again. Judging by my friends, activists, they would like to hold such a picket," noted Kalmyk activist Valentina Erdnieva.

The similar reason for the decline in the public activities in neighbouring Dagestan was also mentioned by Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Chernovik" (Draft). "A high-alert regime has been announced in the republic. So, no one is conducting any actions, including pickets on the amendments to the Constitution," Magomed Magomedov said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 29, 2020 at 04:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.