MOSCOW, May 18 (RAPSI) – A group of lawmakers representing United Russia party has submitted a bill introducing fines for abuse of right to hold rallies to the State Duma. The document’s version has been published on the database of the parliament’s lower house.

The bill envisages fines for filing a notification of a public event with no intent to hold it, not meeting the requirement to notify authorities about refusal to hold a rally and failure to meet the deadline of filing such a notice.

Under the draft law, individuals would face fines from 5,000 to 20,000 rubles for these violations, officials would be fined from 10,000 to 30,000 rubles while companies would face fines from 20,000 to 100,000 rubles ($1,600).

According to the bill’s authors, cases of abuse of right to hold rallies have become more frequent recently. Such occasions are often incendiary, they claim.