Security forces beat up a Rostov-on-Don resident who wanted to hold a rally for a free internet.

According to the telegram channel “Word of Defense”, Evgeniy Makovoz submitted an application to organize a rally on March 18, but never received a response from the authorities.

“Instead of an answer, nine unintroduced security officers came to him,” clarifies Telegram channel. — During the search, Makovoz was beaten and his equipment was taken away."

The activist's current whereabouts are unknown. According to his relatives, he suffered a concussion.

How to сообщает political strategist Dmitry Kisiev, applications for rallies against the internet and communications blockade, planned for March 29, were approved by authorities in only three cities: Penza, Vladimir и Yakutsk (in the last two cities, the date was moved from a weekend to a weekday).

Another 20 or so applications for rallies were rejected. Moscow, for example, cited the COVID epidemic, and the authorities of the Volgograd city Volga In their refusal, they wrote that a rally for a free internet “contradicts the interests of public safety.”

“A simple demand not to disconnect the internet is already becoming a threat,” Kisiev believes. — It feels like citizens' rights are being mocked."