Novosibirsk rally moves to Montenegro after local authorities refuse permission

Monstratsiya, an apolitical rally held annually in Novosibirsk, is set to take place in Budva, Montenegro in May, after local authorities in Novosibirsk told rally organisers that the event cannot go ahead in its planned location.

Last Friday, Novosibirsk’s mayor’s office sent a letter to Monstratsiya’s organisers informing them that the city’s central Krasny Prospekt — where Monstratsiya has traditionally been held — was unavailable because another event had already been planned on the spot. Activists trying to organise a Monstratsiya in Yaroslavl reported the same reaction from local authorities.

“There is a lot of interest in developing art, in satisfying the public’s need for cultural events [in Montenegro] — a steady flow of tourists is already in place,” said Artyom Loskutov, one of Monstratsiya’s original organisers.

Since its inception in 2005, Monstratsiya’s processions have mostly been apolitical, with participants often holding sardonic or blank placards. Despite its apolitical nature, Monstratsiya’s organisers have consistently been at odds with local authorities, a mood that intensified after last year’s attempt to organise the “March for the Federalisation of Siberia”, which was immediately banned by authorities.