Moscow mayor's office approves Libertarian Party's permit request for June 23 protest to support Ivan Golunov

A protest in support of Meduza correspondent Ivan Golunov, this one organized by Russia’s Libertarian Party and the Union of Journalists, has received a government permit to take place June 23 on Moscow’s Sakharov Prospect, Interfax reported.

Organizers petitioned for the permit on June 10, when Golunov was still under house arrest on fabricated charges of attempted drug distribution. They estimated that 20,000 people might attend. Reports had previously emerged that City Hall turned down the petition.

This protest will likely be the third event planned during Golunov’s arrest to take place after his release. On June 12, more than 500 people were arrested during an unsanctioned march in Moscow. On June 16, a government-approved protest organized by two journalists from state-aligned publications will take place on Sakharov Prospect. That protest was approved even though its petition for a permit was submitted outside the legally required 10-day notice period.