On November 26, the Federation Council of Russia approved a law concerning the Constitution of the RF involving “ a change in the term limits of the President of the Russian Federation and of the members of the State Duma”, that will increase the term limits of Deputies of the Gosduma from four to five years, and the President of the RF from four to six years. The Law was sent to the Legislative Assembly.

On December 10, the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg supported the law, reports ZAKS.Ru. 42 deputies out of 50 were “pro”. Eight of nine deputies of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation voted against.

The press service of St. Petersburg “Yabloko” indicated that the “Yablochniki” informed the city of the demonstration, but city authorities refused to agree, since, in the opinion of officials, the measure “would make it impossible to ensure the safe and unimpeded passage of deputies and citizens into the building of the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg”. In addition, Smolny representatives referred to the complex transportation situation in the region of St. Isaac’s Square and adjacent routes, parking in the immediate proximity of the declared place of picketting, and visits by city residents and tourist groups to objects of cultural-historical heritage, located near St. Isaac’s. It was proposed to the demonstrators that they conduct their demonstration at the Young Viewers Theater, despite the fact that it has no relation to the Constitution, noted the “Yabloko” St. Petersburg press release.

The demonstration started with a single picketer at the entrance of the Legislative Assembly. Activist Xenia Vakhrusheva of “Yabloko” held a poster bearing the words of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in 2007: “Our minds should change, not our constitution”. After ten minutes, several activists unrolled a 10- meter long sign reading: “Hands off the Constitution”, which the police immediately tore down. They then detained everyone who was holding it it.

The following people were taken to the 2nd Police Station: leader of St. Petersburg “Yabloko” Maxim Reznik, activists of “Yabloko” Youth Alexander Gudimov, Ekaterina Alimova, and Paulina Strongina, and OGF leader Denis Vasilyev.

In addition to the demonstration, “Yabloko” Youth distributed leaflets in the form of a “Pravda” newspaper from 2020. Some of the newspapers were left in the Legislative Assembly, some were taken by the police.

A single picketer remained at the Legislative Assembly.

Detained Yabloko activists were threatened with 48 hours of detention before transfer of their cases to court. They were charged with conducting an unsanctioned action and insubordination to the legal claims of the police. Participants in the action spent almost six hours in the 2nd Police Station, after which they were taken to court. After three hours, the judge approved the petitions of Reznik, Alimov, Stronginov, and Vasilyev to transfer the matter to their place of residence and the petition of Gudimov to change the trial date in connection with the absence of a defense lawyer.

The “Yabloko” party is carrying out actions against constitutional reform in different regions of the country. The party has also organized the collection of signatures against an increase in term limits for the President and Parliament. The site www.popravkam.net has already collected more than 8 thousand signatures.