Citing coronavirus fears, Moscow bans all mass public events until April 10

5:41 pm, March 10, 2020

Citing public health concerns about the spread of coronavirus, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has banned all mass demonstrations of more than 5,000 people until April 10. According to the news agency RIA Novosti, the mayor issued these orders on March 10.

The ban affects “sporting, entertainment, public, and other mass events.”

The news outlets RBC and TASS previously reported that Moscow officials had canceled an annual festival to celebrate Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Earlier on March 10, multiple opposition groups formally requested permits to hold protests against proposed constitutional amendments. The rallies would have taken place on March 21 and 22.

On April 22, Russia is planning to hold a nationwide vote on a series of sweeping amendments to its Constitution. The reforms will likely allow Vladimir Putin to remain in office until 2036.

For more about the constitutional reforms

It took five hours for Russian lawmakers to propose, consider, and adopt legislation that could keep Putin in office for another 16 years