The parliament has adopted the amendment to the law on rallies, public assemblies and demonstrations by 86 votes for, 6 votes against and 1 abstained vote. The members of Heritage faction and independent MP Viktor Dallakyan voted against this bill. It is worth mentioning that these amendments have been adopted based on the recommendations developed by the EU Venice commission and OSCE/ODIHR and are presented by the authorities as a step targeted at weakening the restrictions adopted on March 17 during the state of emergency. However, the opposition powers allege that these changes are just cosmetic changes and are another attempt to imitate fulfillment of the PACE resolution requirements. By the way, it is not clear yet whether this law will enter into force till the rally of the opposition to take place on June 20 because according to this draft this bill is to be signed and verified by the president within 21 days. Some people say that it will be verified during these days in order to imitate that the recommendations are done before the PACE session. Others say that this possibility is excluded because it may help the opposition involve more and more people in their events, which is out of the interests of the authorities.
