Moscow courts have moved one step closer to banning the National Bolshevik Party. According to Kommersant,
The group was engaged in activities that violate Russia’s anti-extremism laws, the Moscow City Prosecutor’s Officer said in statement on its official web-site on Thursday. National Bolsheviks are now barred from staging rallies, demonstrations, or any other public gatherings.
This is the second time the Natsbols have been banned. A Moscow District Court ruled in July 2005 that the organization didn’t qualify for registration as a political party. This decision was overturned, but then reinstated in April 2006.
But those previous rulings were based on political party registration law. Today’s ruling deemed the Natbols an extremist organization. The Putin government alluded to this possibility in October last year when the Federal Council met to discuss youth extremism. The National Bolshevik Party was named one of the organizations that was of chief concern.
The ban is a serious blow to Other Russia. The Natsbols are in that coalition and are the most radical and visible members of the movement. Today’s ruling makes any Natsbol appearance at the upcoming Other Russia protest in Nizhni Novgorod subject to arrest and up to four years imprisonment under the extremism law.
